#tfaws fic

“We have to take her to a hospital.” Sam insisted.

“I know.” Barnes agreed, his hold on you tightening just to ensure you wouldn’t slip.

“What was she thinking?” Sam said worriedly. He couldn’t understand why you would take on John by yourself. He knew you were a smart fighter, skilled and powerful. But John had lost it. He took the serum and was off his rocker seeing Lemar killed.

“She wasn’t.” Barnes said simply. Barnes’ brain was running a million miles an hour. He wondered why you would be so stupid, but he also understood you weren’t one to play it safe. “We need to take care of her first, then we find Walker.”

“God, you’re unbelievable.” Sam scoffed. “How can you still be worried about that?”

“We need to get that shield. You saw what he’s capable of.”

“She needs to be the top priority!”

Without you knowing, or at least assuming you didn’t know, you’d been his priority the whole time.

“I don’t care about the shield right now!”

“You think she’d want to forget about the shield?” Barnes countered, watching his volume as if you were simply asleep in his arms. “That's what got her like this. Because she wanted to take that shield from him. We can’t let this go.”

“Is that what you think is right or is it because you have a crush on her?” Sam challenged.

You stirred in Barnes’ grip, slowly coming back. You felt the cool stream of water still working to heal you, the damp feeling of your suit’s material paired with the wet spot in your hair at the back of your head. You felt the cold vibranium arm under your knees, the warmth of Barnes’ chest against your cheek. Your eyes slowly opened to a completely different part of the city than you remember.

“Put me down.” You said hoarsely, pulling your hand and the water out of your suit and zipping it back up. You rubbed your eyes and the bridge of your nose to quickly heal that swelling and tenderness before flicking away the excess water from your hand and pulling the absorbed water out of your suit’s fabric.

You weren’t fully healed, but it was good enough. Your chest didn’t ache with every breath and your spine didn’t sting with every movement. You felt considerably stronger than before with clearer vision and the absence of pounding in your head.

The only thing in your head now were your dad’s words. You didn’t know if it was a dream or if you had really crossed the threshold between living and the dead. You didn’t care. All you knew was that he was right. You weren’t done yet.

“No.” Barnes answered. You turned and saw he wasn’t looking at you. Instead, he kept his eyes focused ahead. “You need a hospital.”

“I’m fine.” You struggled in his grip. “Put me down, Barnes.”

“No.”

“Fine.” You replied simply. Using your arms for momentum, you flipped backwards out of Barnes’ arms and landed wobbly on your feet. After quickly regaining your balance, you stood tall. “Where’s Walker?”

“Y/N..” Sam tried gently. “You took a hell of a beating, alright? Just take it easy and we’ll find him later. We’ll get the shield back.”

“You guys don’t get it…I have to do everything myself.” You muttered, turning your hand to see the inside of your arm. You tapped the screen connected to FRIDAY and had her take the tracking information from Sam’s suit. “Thanks for the tracker.” You saluted Sam before quickly making an air ball and riding it to find Walker.

You had to stop him. You had to get the shield back. If not for Sam, then for your grandfather. He made that shield for Steve, and it should be with the man Steve gave it to. It was Steve’s legacy but it was also Howard’s favorite accomplishment. You couldn’t let it stay in the wrong hands and continue to cause people pain. To take lives. 

You heard the footfalls of the boys behind you, but you weren’t stopping. You figured they knew that. All they could do now was follow and fight beside you. All they could do was help you so you didn’t die. You had a feeling that if you went down this time, you weren’t getting back up.

You all found Walker off some old train tracks. He was distraught, likely over losing Lemar. You didn’t blame him for flying off the handle, but you couldn’t excuse taking a man’s life. A man who wasn’t responsible. And to do it so publicly made you sick.

“Are you insane?” Barnes asked you quietly as the three of you approached Walker.

“I’ve been called worse.” You shrugged.

“Walker.” Sam began, as if in warning.

“You guys should see a medic. You don’t look so good.” Walker replied. “And I’m surprised you’re still standing.” He nodded to you.

“I’ll admit, you got a mean swing… If you wanted me to stay down, you should’ve put me down.” You said simply, weaving a flame between your fingers on either hand. You felt the wind dancing around your ankles at the same time, maybe even small tremors in the ground. “This ends now.”

“You saw what happened.” He defended loudly. “You know what I had to do! I killed him because he killed Lemar!”

“He didn’t kill Lemar, John.” Barnes countered.

“Regardless, we don’t trade lives.” You added tensely. Every word between you four wound your muscles tighter. The flames at your hands grew hotter. The air at your feet moved in faster, tighter circles. 

“You go down that road, it won’t end well.” Barnes continued. 

“I’m not like you.” Walker countered angrily. There was an accusation in his tone, that that's who Barnes still was. He insinuated that he was better than Barnes, but that just showed he didn’t really know who Barnes was outside of his Winter Soldier stories.

You instantly turned your attention to Barnes. His eyes were down, as if he was processing what Walker had said. He looked like someone kicked his puppy and you didn’t know why that expression hurt you as well.

Without really thinking, your hand had reached for his, flame extinguished. You gave his hand a gentle squeeze, as if to say that everything was okay. He looked up at you and offered a tight smile before gently squeezing your hand in return. You didn’t know it but that gesture meant a lot in that moment. You hoped your eyes conveyed the sincerity you intended.

“It was the heat of battle, alright?” Sam tried reasoning with him. But the look in his eyes, the way he eyed you all like you were dinner, showed you he was well past reasoning with. You slowly pulled your hand back and the flame danced through your digits again. “If you explain what happened, maybe they’ll consider your record. We don’t want anyone else to get hurt…”

“You have to give us the shield.” You tried calmly. Even though every muscle in your body was wound tight and every nerve was alive with adrenaline, you followed Sam’s lead. You tried to talk to him, same way you tried with Karli. 

“So that’s what this is?” He answered darkly. “You almost had me..”

“You made a mistake. A very public one.” You said simply.

“You don’t want to do this.” He threatened.

“Yeah, we do.” Barnes answered with a nod. He glanced at you, who met his eyes and added a quick nod in return.

Barnes moved in first and Sam was quick to follow. You hesitated just a moment, letting Sam and Barnes make the first move. You had to be smarter and more calculated than the last time, otherwise you’d likely be returning to the States in a body bag. At the first opening you got, you stomped to raise a slab of rock and you kicked it at Walker.i

Walker kicked Sam away and tried to take on Barnes. You quickly took Sam’s place and created a fire blade in your hand. While Barnes had Walker by the shield, you slashed the flame across his back, burning through his suit and his flesh. You choked on the smell momentarily before dropping the flame and creating a rock gauntlet. You slammed your stone covered fist into the burning wound and forced him to the ground.

Walker elbowed you in the jaw and spun to land a solid right hook on Barnes. The contact sent both of you reeling back and gave Walker time to capitalize. He moved to swipe the shield in a direction that could take you both but Sam came through just in time.

The two went hand to hand while Barnes came around to get you. You could feel the bruise forming already as you moved your mouth around, trying to break up the pain.

“Come on.” He said when he got to your side, hauling you to your feet. “Fight’s not over yet.”

“After you, Sarge.” You gestured for him to go.

“Ladies first.” He shrugged.

You chuckled slightly before moving back into the fight. You moved quickly, throwing flame after flame at him. He ducked behind the shield and Barnes came from behind you. Walker countered most of your attacks but you saw a perfect opening. He pulled back to slam the shield against Sam so you yanked up a rock column to connect with his chin. The impact sent him wobbling back and gave Barnes a chance to apply more pressure. After ducking a heavy blow from Barnes, he threw the shield and sent Barnes flying across the room.

Walker was running after the shield as soon as it left his hand, you and Sam moving in right behind him. Walker had Barnes pinned against an old crate, the two fighting for the disk.

“Why are you making me do this?” Walker screamed, a desperate rage in his voice. He launched Barnes again once the sentence left his mouth.

“Bucky.” You muttered when you realized he didn’t get up right away. While Sam took on Walker again, you ran to Barnes’ side.

“You gotta get up.” You told him, kneeling at his side. You watched the electricity crackling around his arm. He winced as he tried to lift his Vibranium arm. “Here, let me just...” You said gently, focusing on redirecting the extra voltage away from his arm.

What you didn’t see was the way Barnes was looking at you. He watched the intent focus your eyes held, the precise movements of your hands, the careful direction of your fingers. The lightning travelled the path of your arms like a road, seeming soaking into your spine and exiting out the other hand. He was in awe.

He was partly surprised you had focused on helping him. You didn’t have to. It would’ve gone away within a minute, but you took the time to help him. He realized that you actually were his friend. And more than that, he liked that you stopped to help him.

The electricity crackled up one arm and to your spine. You turned and focused on Walker, carefully handling the power in your body. Electricity was a tricky thing. One slip of control and you could hurt yourself. You learned that the hard way. You shot it at Walker, your aim slightly off so you hit right near his feet, and caught him just before he tried to land a devastating blow on Sam.

“Come on, James.” You sighed as you pulled him off the ground to sit up. He groaned and leaned against a nearby pillar. You realized you used his first name and you tensed slightly. It felt too intimate to use in those moments.

“We gotta finish this.” Barnes muttered, to which you could only nod. You relaxed slightly when it didn’t seem like he noticed. But he did. 

“Did you have a plan or should we just try and tire him out?” You tried to joke.

“You want to be the bait?” He offered and you couldn’t fully tell if he was joking or not.

“Make him go after me?” You asked with raised brows. “Promise you won’t let him kill me.”

“Cross my heart.” He nodded.

“Worth a shot.” You shrugged, jumping back into the fight.

Walker had just yanked Sam out of the air and lost hold of the shield. You threw a blast of air to push the shield further for everyone and slammed a fist to the ground. You used the rock to snag Walker’s ankles and cause him to fall on his face. By the time you caught up to him, he was top of Sam and was ripping his wings apart.

You called a flame to cover the entirety of both hands and ran. You tackled Walker off Sam, your hands moving to his neck as you two rolled and you tried to bury your fingers into the soft tissue. The smell of burnt flesh invaded your lungs and you felt the smoke burning your eyes.

He screamed out from the burns and once your momentum stopped, he had you pinned with a knee on your chest. You coughed from the burnt smell and the increasing pressure. He pulled your hands away easily and squeezed. You cried out as you heard the bone break in your left arm. 

“We could’ve been a team.” He sneered ferally.

“I don’t play nice with others.” You commented, trying to buy yourself and Barnes some time. Turning your head to come up with something, you realized you had landed right next to the shield. But so did Walker.

“I am Captain. America.” He practically snarled.

“Yeah?” You asked as an idea came to mind. “You look like a cheap knock off to me.”

He quickly reached for the shield and raised it above his head. As he screamed, you lifted your right hand and flicked a quick bolt of lightning at his chest. He winced inwardly but didn’t budge. In a last ditch effort, you did your best to take control of his blood.

With one hand and the pressure on your sternum, it was impossible to gain complete control. He was fighting you the whole time, pushing the shield with all his strength. You knew once your control slipped, that disk was headed straight for your chest. You groaned as you tried adding your other hand, but the pain was too much. You stomped a foot instead, sending deep vibrations through the concrete foundation. Walker faltered but wouldn’t move.

You thought that was it. Your time was truly up this time. But maybe that would be enough to get that shield back to Sam, back to the man it was supposed to be with. You were about to accept your fate and let him kill you when Barnes made good on his promise. He tackled Walker off of you and handled the fight himself.

You turned on your side and coughed violently, trying to open your airways enough to breathe properly. They traded blows for a minute until Walker managed the upper hand. Sam moved in for the rescue, so he and Barnes were able to get control of the situation. Him and Barnes were turning Walker’s arm outward and you saw an opening.

You pushed yourself to stand and slammed your foot to break loose a piece of the concrete floor. You kicked it forward and heard the sickly pop of his bone dislocating. The pop turned Sam’s pressure into action and he went flying in a separate direction. You almost felt bad for dislocating his arm in such a violent manner, but the shooting pain in your own arm quickly erased that thought. 

“It’s mine.” Walker growled as Sam stood with the shield in his hands and Barnes came to stand with you.

“It’s over, Walker.” You answered through heavy breaths, clutching your arm to your chest.

“It’s mine!” He repeated, pulling back to swing on you.

You ducked his arm and the punch was blocked by Barnes. He landed a hard shot against Walker’s jaw and you swiped your leg to knock him over. Barnes lifted Walker and swung him like a baseball bat into Sam, who was moving in hard with the shield. The impact sent the three of them in different directions, the shield landing between them all.

You quickly moved to grab it while the boys groaned and tried to get up. You held the shield in your hands, staring at the dried blood on it. The sight disgusted you. You moved and shoved it into Sam’s chest once he stood.

“You give this away again, I’m keeping it.” You said plainly before pushing off and walking away with Barnes.

“You’re going to the hospital.” Barnes said simply once you caught up with him.

“I can fix myself.” You defended, picking up a stream of water from a nearby puddle and focused on the returning pain in your chest.

“It wasn’t a request.”

“You can’t order me around.”

“I’m pulling rank. I’m a Sergeant, you’re not.”

“Alright, you got me there.” You answered, too tired to really argue with him. “Can we get something to eat first?”

The next day, you three waited in the same room you had talked to Karli in. You did basic healing on your arm so the hospital left it in a sling rather than a hard cast. They said they may have to put pins in your sternum if it didn’t right itself, but that would take a bit of time before they knew.

Sam caught you up on the Karli situation and his buddy, who you learned to be called Torres, came in. You followed Barnes out after he ignored Sam asking about Zemo.

Later or maybe even the next day - things had really blurred together - you and Barnes found Zemo at the Sokovia memorial, exactly where you expected to.

“Thought you’d come sooner.” Zemo said when you two approached.

“Had something else to take care of first.” You shrugged.

“And don’t worry. I’ve decided I’m not going to kill you.”

“You’d never get the chance.” You said easily as Barnes said “Imagine my relief.”

“The girl… She’s radicalized beyond salvation.” He began as if he was just waiting for a chance to give his speech. “I warned Sam, but he didn’t listen to me. As stubborn as Steve Rogers before him. But you- Both of you, can do what needs to be done. Karli has people everywhere and there’s only one way to ensure she cannot carry out her mission.”

“I appreciate the advice.” Barnes answered flatly. “But we’re gonna do it our own way.”

“I was afraid you would say that.” Zemo chuckled.

You stood beside Barnes as he lifted the gun to Zemo. You watched what seemed like relief come across Zemo’s features. You weren’t necessarily surprised to see that expression, given that he had lost everyone. He was willing to take his own life in Siberia all those years ago, so of course he wasn’t afraid to die now. But part of it may have been relief to see Barnes being the one to hold the gun. Part of him likely wanted Barnes to be the killer HYDRA made him.

When Barnes pulled the trigger and the gun was empty, Zemo’s relief shifted to disappointment. You opened your palm and moved the bullets in a circle above your hand. You held your hand up with a small smirk as Zemo stared at the bullets in disbelief. You smiled as the Dora approached.

You let the bullets fall to the ground and tucked your hands behind your back, rocking on your heels. “Told you I’d deliver him myself.” You nodded in greeting.

“I took the liberty of crossing off my name in your book.” Zemo added. “I hold no grudges for what you thought you had to do.. Goodbye, James. Goodbye, Y/N.”

Ayo talked to Barnes for a minute while you looked at the memorial again. So many lives lost.. It still blew your mind how quickly that situation had gotten out of control.

You left before Barnes did. He was still talking to Ayo when you slipped away. Part of you knew you should’ve stayed and explained where you were going. But the bigger part of you just wanted to go. You headed to the airport where the Stark jet was waiting for you.

First, you went to your shared apartment. You quickly packed all your things and left no trace of yourself in the apartment. You thought about leaving a note, something simple that said ‘Heading back to my family. Thanks for the place to crash.’ but even that didn’t feel right. You decided it was best to say nothing so left about two months worth of rent in cash and walked out. You hailed a cab and headed to the lake house.

You spent the last couple days getting to know your half-sister, and she was such a sweet kid. You saw a lot of resemblance to your dad so the first day with her was rough. But you gave her a chance and you were glad you did.

The two of you spent most of the time near the lake. You showed her different tricks you could do with the water. You used the air to blow her hair around and make the leaves fly. You made little Avenger figures from the rocks below. You used your powers for parlor tricks instead of fighting, and the calm felt nice.

When you got the call from Sam, you ignored it. You assumed it was a lead on Karli and at the moment, you wanted nothing to do with it. You did your part and got the shield away from Walker. You couldn’t save that Flag Smasher but you saved Sam and Barnes. You put Zemo back in prison. All your boxes were checked. You could rest… So why didn’t you feel at peace?

It was another couple days before you were contacted by Sam and Barnes again.

You were with Morgan at the shoreline when the car pulled up. You assumed it was someone for Pepper, probably Happy. You were making a crown from the water for Morgan, freezing it above her head before placing it in its place. You spun the air around you two for dramatic effect.

“I now crown thee, Princess Morgan!” You announced theatrically, pushing a wave across the lake that made her giggle. “Sovereign ruler of this great body of water! What is your first decree, your Highness?” You bowed dramatically.

“Trespassers!” She announced, pointing behind you. “Defend our shores!”

“I shall give my life to serve!” You laughed before turning to see who was coming. You saw Sam and Barnes stepping out of the car and you froze momentarily. “Alas, fair Princess, it’s only visitors from another kingdom.”

“Trespassers!” She yelled again with a wide smile. “Get them!”

“I live to serve thee.” You chuckled and shook your head before heading to the boys.

“So this is where you’ve been hiding?” Barnes asked simply.

“Better than fighting.” You shrugged. “Besides, I never rescheduled my apartment walkthroughs… You guys could’ve just called, yknow.”

“It’s not really the kind of thing you say over the phone.” Sam reasoned. “And last time I called, you didn’t answer.”

“Yeah, cause I thought you were gonna ask what I’m guessing you’re gonna ask me now.” You sighed and turned to check on Morgan. She was playing with the rock Avengers you made her, creating a fight scene of her own. You watched as she held the figure of yourself in one hand and threw a rock at one of the other Avengers. 

“I’ll set the table for two more.. You don’t talk shop in front of the kid, you can stay for lunch.” You sighed, walking backwards and motioning for them to follow. “Pepper usually makes too much food anyways.”

“Morgan!” You called, heading towards the house with the boys following behind. “Chow time! Come get some lunch!” You waited at the porch for her to catch up. 

“What is it?” She asked when she met up with you. “Who are these guys?” She whispered.

“Just some friends..” You dismissed her concerns with a smile as you took her hand while she jumped up the stairs. “Let’s go wash up.”

“Everyone washes their hands before we eat.” You said over your shoulder. “Morgan will show you to the bathroom.” She shot you an accusing look. “I’ll wash my hands in the kitchen so I can reset the table.” You put your hands up in surrender before heading to the kitchen.

“You invited people over?” Pepper asked as you pulled two more plates from the cabinet.

“More like they invited themselves..” You shrugged. “I figured there’d be enough anyway.”

“What do they want?” She eyed you carefully.

“Hopefully just to check in.”

“I didn’t know you were friends with those two.” Her tone betrayed something of disapproval.

“With all the family I’ve lost, I could use a few friends.” You answered sharply. “Oh, and I told them not to talk about anything in front of her so lunch should be pleasant. You’re welcome.”

“Y/N!” Morgan came running into the kitchen while laughing. “You are relieved of your knighthood.”

“I- Huh?” You laughed in disbelief while you pulled her chair out for her and your own chair from beside her. Pepper hid her giggle while bringing the food from the kitchen. “And who will take my place? Who can defend this great land better than me? The prodigy of Earth’s greatest defender, himself?”

“Him!” She pointed to Barnes -who offered a look of confusion- as he and Sam sat on the opposite side of the table. She grabbed your arm and pulled you close so she could whisper her next sentence. “He has a metal arm!” Her jaw dropped to mimic her earlier shock.

“Unfortunately, he won’t be staying long enough to protect your waters.” You said, feigning disappointment. “Sadly, Sir James is only visiting… Besides, I’m stronger than him anyway.”

You felt Barnes’ eyes on you but you ignored them. You didn’t call him James often. Really, that only came to mind as the third time. In Madripoor, taking the shield from Walker, and now. You weren’t sure why you said it but it felt better than calling him ‘Barnes’ when talking to Morgan. But maybe ‘Bucky’ would’ve been better.

“It’s true. I’ve seen it.” Sam added with a chuckle. Barnes simply rolled his eyes with an amused smile. You were relieved that he stepped in and dissipated the tension.

Lunch was surprisingly pleasant. The boys talked to Pepper about how the company was doing and the plans - if any - for rebuilding the Avengers compound. She asked about Zemo and if they knew anything about his escape. You all made jokes and told stories, which made the reunion rather fun.

Once the table was cleared, you took the boys outside while Pepper kept Morgan in the kitchen. You all stood around by the lake. You skipped rocks while Sam and Barnes started their proposition.

“We’re pretty sure Karli is going to attack the GRC vote.” Sam explained.

“Pretty sure isn’t enough to be here, Wilson.” You shook your head. “You’ll need to do something better than that.”

“There’s no guarantee but I bet we’re right.”

“Right… You really think she’s going to be able to travel to New York without someone snatching her up first?” You scoffed. “That move would make sense, I guess. If you can’t change the vote, you stop the vote. Probably kill the Council as a whole and get someone else in there.”

“So you’re in?”

“Am I in?” You laughed. “I did my due diligence. Walker doesn’t have the shield and Zemo is locked up. My hands are clean.”

“So you’re comfortable with quitting on this?” Barnes challenged.

“Why do you care?” You turned on him. “Why do you really care? Let me ask you something, Barnes. Why did you let me stay with you when you didn’t know me?”

“What are you getting at?” He avoided your question. The accusations in your tone hit him deep. It sounded like you were accusing him of ulterior motives, but he just wanted to do the right thing. He was glad for it, being that he quickly got used to having you around. To the point where he even liked having you around.

“I’ve seen my name in your book.” You said simply. “You think you have to make amends because you killed my grandparents. That’s all it’s been about, right? Cause I’m the only Stark left that can forgive you?”

“No.” He shook his head and tried to continue, but you interrupted. He had to admit that it might’ve started like that, a chance to right a wrong from so long ago. A wrong that was the final nail in the coffin of Tony and Steve’s friendship. But the fire in your eyes made it hard for him to admit that to you.

“You didn’t actually care that I was on my own, and that’s fine. I don’t need you to. But you don’t get to stand here and pretend that I was more than just a personal assignment.”

“It wasn’t like that!” He shouted. Barnes was wondering why he couldn’t tell you the full story. Maybe since he couldn’t even admit it to himself.

“What was it like then?” You snapped in return. 

“Let’s just take a step back.” Sam tried carefully. You noticed the way he looked at Barnes, as if he was trying to help him.

“Do you see Howard when you look at me?” You pushed Barnes. A vicious heat was sprouting in your chest, inching up your throat and creeping down your arms. “Howard in his youth, believing that you and Steve were some- some unstoppable duo that HYDRA didn’t have a chance against. Or when I had blood on my face, did you see Howard before you killed him?”

“That’s enough!” Sam announced. The firmness of his tone cleared the red from your vision. You realized you had stepped closer to Barnes, almost in challenge. You chuckled in disbelief, stepping back with your hands up in surrender as you chewed the inside of your cheek.

“Y/N, we could really use your help.” Sam’s tone was gentler, bordering pleading.

“Please.” Barnes murmured, so quietly that you weren’t sure you had actually heard it.

“I think you’ve overstayed your welcome, boys.” You replied simply, taking a couple steps backwards. “You’ll get an email when the Compound’s up and running again.”

“Y/N.” Sam tried again but you ignored him.

“This isn’t the kid Steve thought you were.” Barnes called out. “Doesn’t seem like the kid your dad thought you were either!”

“Bucky.” Sam scolded. He knew that wouldn’t convince you to help. If anything, it would push you further away.

You turned on your heel and pulled water up from the lake. In a swift movement, you threw it at Barnes and froze him against a nearby tree.

“You don’t get to tell me who my dad thought I was.” You warned as you stepped closer. “You barely knew him. Both of you barely knew him… And you barely know me.”

“I know you’re not a quitter.” Barnes continued.

“I’m not quitting.” You shrugged, dropping the ice. “Like I said, I did my part. You want a fighter? See if Walker will answer your calls. Maybe call on Sharon for another favor. I’m done. My part in this fight is over, Soldier.”

“We’re a team.” Sam offered. “We can’t do it without you.”

“I think you’ll manage.”

“Did you bring it?” Sam asked Barnes as you walked away.

“You think it’ll make a difference?” Barnes scoffed.

“Just give it to her, dumbass.” Sam rolled his eyes.

“Stark!” Barnes called.

Your hand was on the stair railing but you froze. You turned but didn’t leave your position from the steps. You sighed and leaned against the house as Barnes came up to you with a case in hand.

“What is that?” You asked with a brow quirked in interest.

“I called in a favor.” He said causally as he held the case out to you.

“Again, what is it?”

“Will you stop being so stubborn for one minute?”

“No.”

“Consider it a gift.”

Cautiously, you took the case from his hands. You ignored the brushing of your fingers, though it made your heart stutter.

“Am I going to regret taking this?” You tried to lighten the air around you. There was still a tension lingering from your interaction only a few minutes earlier.

“Do you regret any of it?” He countered sincerely.

“Yeah.” You looked over at the lake. “We’ve lost good people doing this type of work… Can you really blame me for wanting to keep my peace?”

“We really need your help here, Y/N.” He stepped closer, placing a hand near yours on the railing.

“Tell me the truth then.”

“It doesn’t change anything..” He sighed. “You-“

“I want to hear you say it.” You said with a nod, more to convince yourself you were sure. “Is my name in your book?”

“Yeah… It was.” He confessed. “That’s what it was at first but..”

“But what? You saved my life so it balances out?”

“Wha- No. You know, you’re insufferable sometimes.” He groaned.

“Well, I guess that’s settled.” You sighed. “Thanks for this. I’ll send a ‘thank-you’ basket to Sam’s place for you.” You turned and went inside, dismissing your mom and Morgan while you went straight to your room.

You dropped the case on your bed and sat on the ground, back against the wall and knees to your chest while you stared at the so-called gift. It was light but there was weight to it. You had purposefully knocked it against the railing on your way in and felt a different reverberation from it, something you’d felt before but not often.

If you had to guess, you would’ve said Vibranium.

You folded your arms over your raised knees and dropped your chin on top. The case was taunting you and you let it. Your fingers itched to flip the latches, your brain creating possibilities for the contents. With a sudden movement, an all at once action that didn’t allow you to reconsider, you moved to it and pressed your thumb against the scanner.

There was a slight hiss of air as the seal between the two halves broke. There was almost a light coming from the contents and it only tempted you more. You drummed your fingers over the top, closing your eyes to register the reverb. It was Vibranium, but not completely. Not a solid piece, more flexible and bending. Fibers, maybe, or woven between.

You opened your eyes and held your breath while you lifted the top. The case sat open for a few more seconds, just until your chest was burning for air. Then you let out the breath and opened your eyes, seeing a flooded bunch of dark fabric sitting before you. Your fingers grazed the material, tracing the overlapping red and gold lines.

The colors matched your dad’s first suit perfectly. So perfectly it brought tears to your eyes.

“Dad…” You said softly. “I wish you were here right now, give me some advice.”

You gave a broken smile before shutting the case and shifting it out the way so you could sit. Hunched over, elbows on your knees and hands clasped while the tears welled to a point you had to close your eyes.

“You’d know the right thing to do, always did… Me on the other hand, I’m flailing. I don’t know who I’m supposed to be or where I’m supposed to be. I just wanted to be like you, Dad…”

A light knock at your door stole your attention. After a second of silence, Pepper walked in with a small smile on her face. She looked between you and the case before she settled on the bed next to you.

“You already are a lot like Tony.” She said softly and you sniffled. “He hit this kind of point too, where he thought he needed to stop because too many people were hurting.”

“But he didn’t.” You finished her thought and sat up, letting out a heavy sigh. “Pepper, I’m not my dad. I know that. I’ve always known that, but I just thought I could be like him.”

“You are.” She insisted gently. “I see him in everything you do. The way you are with Morgan. The way you talk. The way you carry yourself. Even the way you lose.”

“He’d want me to see this through.” You said quietly. Your voice felt far away, like it wasn’t coming from your body but from someplace else. From the lake maybe, where you and Pepper floated your dad’s first Arc Reactor. “I know that, but I don’t know if I can.”

“Your dad was wrong about a lot of things, Y/N.” She nodded before nudging you slightly. “But he was never, never wrong about you… You’re Tony Stark’s daughter. I don’t think your dad ever found a fight too big. Neither should you.”

“Karli’s threatened you and Morgan already. Sam’s nephews. If we can’t stop her, everyone we care about is in trouble.” You rambled, desperate for some sort of assurance that backing down was the right thing to do.

“Loki threatened you when he came to New York.” She shrugged. “Didn’t stop Tony.”

“Morgan is all the family you have, Pep. I can’t let that get taken away. You said it yourself. I don’t know how to do this. I can’t clean up my own mess. ”

“I’m gonna say this once, kiddo. Your dad didn’t know how to clean up his mess until he was standing in the middle of it.” She chuckled sadly. “But he found a way. And you are Y/N Stark, just as smart and capable as your father. Morgan thinks so, too.”

“You really think it’ll all be okay?”

“I do. After this is done, if you’re still done with it, then you can rest.”

You offered a small smile and she gave the same in return. You threw your arms around her and she laughed in surprise before returning the embrace. You weren’t sure where the path to Karli would leave, but you knew Pepper and your dad’s ghost was right.

You had to finish what you had started.

You packed a bag, separate from the suit Barnes gave you, and called up your family’s pilot. The jet was ready within the hour and you gave Morgan one last hug on the way out. She clung to your leg for a few minutes and you felt the little tear puddles on your pants. She muttered that you had to promise to come back, to protect Stark Waters, and you did just that.

Your flight was relatively quick and you hailed a cab to take you the rest of the way. The driver was chatty, especially when you told him where you were headed. Sam’s family was well-loved in his community and you liked to hear it. You kept your head down and signature Stark glasses on your face as you walked the few blocks to Sam’s sister’s place.

You hesitated to knock, worried you wouldn’t be welcomed. Or maybe you were worried you’d be too welcomed. Either way, you turned away from the door. You called another cab and had them take you to the pier, this driver also knew Sam’s family and directed you to the right boat.

You stepped aboard and left your suitcases up top before you headed down to the engine room. You remembered hearing from the drivers that Sam was trying to fix it up and you decided to help with the hard parts. You activated your glasses and the AI showed you where there were issues.

You were working quietly on your own, ordering parts as you went, when someone else showed up. Sam first, then Barnes soon after. You were startled and looked at them with wide eyes, but when they gave you knowing smiles - the type that said they knew you would show up - you turned back to your work.

Later that morning, you three had the water pump pulled apart. Sam and Barnes were talking about whether or not a certain bolt existed in a big gear and you ignored them, examining the gear itself. You rolled your eyes in amusement as they went back and forth until Sam’s sister Sarah came up.

“The water pump is not the problem.” She instead. “I don’t come up into the sky and tell you how to barrel roll or whatever so don’t come down here and start messing with things you clearly don’t understand.”

“It’s not the problem but it will be soon.” You said, lifting the propeller shaped gear. “The corrosion’s gonna lead to this thing not bringing in enough water and it’s gonna overheat. And the impeller is cracking. Don’t worry though. I ordered new ones and they should be here by end of day. Easy fix.”

“Stark.” She nodded.

“I thought about a whole new pump but…” You shrugged. “She’s still got some kick in her. Just needed a few add-ons.”

“Alright, off.” She shooed you three away. “Off, bye. Thank you so much.”

You stayed around the boat for a while longer while Sam and Barnes went off to do something you didn’t care to join in on. Instead, you waited around for your parts to arrive and you put them in place. By the time Sam got back, you had finished your portion of the rebuild. You were tightening a few last bolts while Sam and Sarah talked, though you caught the end of their conversation.

“What would be the point of all the pain and sacrifice if I wasn’t willing to stand up and keep fighting?” Sam said simply, as if he truly understood his place in the fight.

And at the same time, you seemed to understand yours.

After hanging around and training for a few days with Sam, he got a call. His friend Torres caught a cell ping that matched the same pings from across Europe, just before the Flag Smashers went through. The ping was set in New York.

You were quick to set up travel plans to New York. Sam said he would get in touch with Barnes while you did your end. After the calls were made and a time table was set, you found Sam opening his case.

“Looks good.” You said as you went in, peering over to see it. “It’ll suit you.”

“How’d yours look?” He asked.

“Stylish, easy to move in, and a little homage to my dad… Pretty much perfect.”

“Pretty much?”

“Depends if it’s fireproof.”

At that, Sam laughed.

“You ready for this, Captain?” You gave him a small nudge with your elbow.

“Are you, Stark?”

Sam only laughed in response, taking several steps forward to close the gap between them and those that were let in before them. They only waited for a second more before the bouncer ushered for them to enter. 

Different colored strobe lights flickered around the room, the club not having any sort of lighting except for those white and neon colors. The volume of the music seemed to increase with every step further into the door, the bass reverberating right through Bucky’s entire being. It wasn’t anything that he recognized, the music a bit too modern for his tastes, not to mention that it seemed to be several songs remixed together. His steel blue orbs flitted around the room, following directly behind Sam as his friend pushed past all of the club-goers to make their way to the bar. 

It seemed the bar was the only section of the club that had normal lighting, though it was dimmed by several levels. It was just bright enough to be able to see those that stood all around the rather large and expansive counter. It lined the entire back wall of the club, giving everyone that stood around a perfect view of the dance floor. Bucky’s eyes glanced around the dance floor as he and Sam found an open spot at the bar, surveying all of the people that were losing themselves to the music. 

Seemingly not finding anyone interesting upon the floor, aside from those that had had a bit too much to drink—their loose and carefree dance moves being the telltale sign. Bucky went back to scanning all of the faces that currently adorned the bar. This time, something did happen to catch his attention. A trio that was dressed in all sparkles, currently raising their shot glasses up into the air for a toast. Of course, they weren’t the only ones that were dressed in sparkles that night—but they were the only ones that had caught his eye thus far. 

“To finally dumping that asshole!” Cheered one of your best friends, lifting her drink into the air, encouraging you to toast to her words. 

You couldn’t help but laugh at her words, raising your shot of choice into the air, clinking all three of your glasses together before knocking the liquor back. You scrunch your face up at the burn that radiated all of the way down into your stomach, a curse word falling from your lips in response. “Well, that’ll speed things up,” You commented with a laugh, placing the now empty shot glass upon the bar. Your friends nodded their heads in agreement, each of them still shaking off their grimaces from the burn of the liquor. 

It was your first Girls’ Night Out since breaking up with your shitty ex-boyfriend. The one who always started a fight when you came home from these nights, fully believing that you only went out to cheat on him. You shook your head slightly, as if trying to shake yourself from your thoughts and the bad feelings that were rising. This night wasn’t about him anymore, this night was about you. You and your friends, and you weren’t going to let him ruin one more minute of it. 

“First drink’s on me!” You shouted above the excruciatingly loud music, knowing that when you left for the night your ears would be ringing. Your friends cheered enthusiastically, one of them catching the attention of the bartender and ordering your usuals. As you wait for your drink to arrive, you let your eyes wander around the club. A feeling of excitement crept up from inside of you, forming goosebumps on your skin. This was your first night of fun and dancing where you could take a guy home without a single regret—or at least you hoped. Your sober self might feel differently the next morning, but that was the next morning problem. 

As your drinks arrived, you didn’t hesitate to start sipping it down. You needed a buzz to form if you were going to have the courage to do what you planned for tonight. Your attention was momentarily distracted by one of your friends being pulled off to the dance floor by a guy that could only be described as tall, dark, and handsome. You shot her a wink as she was escorted away, being left with just your other friend, who had been scanning the club with her eyes just as you had been seconds ago. As you returned to your previous activity, your eyes instantly landed upon a man that was across the bar from you, and his eyes were already on you. A shiver raked down your spine from the intense gaze, and your cheeks already began to flush. How were you ever going to accomplish taking a man home, if you couldn’t even keep yourself from being flustered just from meeting someone’s gaze? 

You didn’t have time to think over that issue, as a hand tapped upon your shoulder. You jumped slightly out of surprise, twisting yourself to face whoever it was that had touched you. A green-eyed, blonde-haired man stood in front of you, his hand outstretched for you to take and lead you away to the dance floor. You gave one last glance over towards the dark and mysterious stranger before letting yourself be whisked away to the middle of the room. A dance and a free drink wouldn’t hurt, would it? 

Bucky was already on his second beer when he watched you be whisked away to the dance floor. He watched as your second friend was pulled away to dance shortly after you had been, and then as the other returned to the bar, the guy she had been dancing with ordered a drink. Dark brows furrowed a bit in confusion, as it seemed to be something he had been noticing the entire time he was there. A girl wanders off to dance, and after a song or two, they return to the bar for a drink. He nudged Sam, who somehow seemed to still be by his side. “Are they paying for the dance by buying them drinks?” He asked, his head turned towards Sam and his voice raised to be heard over the music. 

“Yeah, I probably should’ve explained that. You ask a girl to dance, she says yes, you dance a song or two, and then you get her a free drink.” He explained, finishing off his second beer before clapping Bucky on his shoulder. “Speaking of which, I’m gonna go find myself a girl,” He paused for a moment, adding on a quick, “You should too,” with a smirk before he wandered off. 

Bucky heaved out a sigh, though was unable to keep the grin off of his face as he watched Sam approach a girl and within seconds have her headed towards the dance floor. As he watched them get lost in the sea of people, he immediately shifted his attention towards finding you. His eyes scanned the dance floor and a slight frown formed upon his face as he hadn’t caught a glimpse of your sparkly outfit. His blue orbs darted back around the bar, and he was immediately rewarded with your visage. This time, there was a new drink in your hand, and you were surrounded by your friends once more. Your eyes met his for a few moments before another guy approached your trio. Bucky unknowingly held his breath, that is, until the guy whisked away one of your friends back to the dance floor. He cursed underneath his breath and lifted his beer to his lips to finish it off. “Guess it’s now or never,” He muttered near silently, pushing himself away from the bar. 

After your attention had been drawn away by your friend being whisked off for yet another dance, you returned your gaze to Mr. Mysterious across the bar. Except, this time, he was not standing where he was last. Your brows furrowed as your eyes scanned the nearby vicinity for him, your lips wrapped around the straw of your drink as you sipped slowly. Suddenly, your eyes found the familiar leather-jacket clad man in the sea of people. You nearly choked on your drink, he was pushing his way through the crowd towards you. 

“Fuck,” You cursed aloud, accidentally catching the attention of the friend that hadn’t been whisked back away to the dance floor yet. 

“What?” She asked, leaning closer towards you so that she could hear you better over the music. 

You nudged her gently and raised a hand to point at the man that had you in mind as his destination. When her eyes met his figure, a gasp escaped from her, followed shortly by a squeal of excitement. “He’s hot!” 

You shook your head and laughed at her response. Well, she wasn’t wrong. Feeling a need for a bit more courage, you quickly sipped down the remnants of your third, or fourth, drink. You had lost count, honestly. You finished your drink in perfect time, setting the empty plastic cup on the bar right when his ungloved hand tapped upon your bare shoulder. Sucking in a quick breath to ease your nerves, you twisted yourself to face him. That breath caught in your throat upon viewing him up close. My God. He was hotter than you had realized. Steel blue eyes that were currently taking in your form, just as you were doing to him. His leather jacket attire was only slightly out of place compared to the other club-goers, but the gloved left hand was a bit odd. 

“Care to dance, doll?” His deep and gruff voice boomed over top of the music, his ungloved hand extended for her to take. 

It took longer than you wished to admit to find your voice, your head bobbing up and down in agreement as you slipped your soft hand into his calloused one. “Yeah,” You finally managed, a smile now gracing your features. 

A charming grin now pulled at his own lips as he led you towards the middle of the floor. His eyes caught Sam, now dancing with another girl, and he shot him a wink. Sam’s face mimicked one of shock, surprised that his friend had actually taken his advice. He gave him a subtle thumbs up that neither of the ladies caught, but had Bucky chuckling under his breath. 

Has he ever danced like this before? No, but it couldn’t be that hard. He had been watching everyone for over an hour now, and he used to dance back in his day. He just had to listen to the music and follow the beat….Yeah, that was it. His hands made their way to your hips, just as yours wrapped around his neck loosely. His right leg slotted itself in between your legs as you began to move to the music together, the alcohol doing wonders for the both of you, his right hand slipping lower until it was resting on the top of your ass. 

“What’s your name, Doll?” He spoke into your ear, his hot breath fanning upon your neck. 

“(Y/N),” You responded, tilting your head upwards as you spoke, the height difference between you finally beginning to show. “Yours?” 

“Bucky,” He replied, his right hand squeezing the flesh of your ass as you accidentally brushed your clothed core against his thigh. He blamed it on his lack of experience with this kind of dancing, you blamed it on the one-too-many drinks you had already had. 

The two of you had joined the dance floor in the midst of a song, and as it switched over to one with a different rhythm, you spun around in his grasp. You kept one arm raised, hand resting behind you on his neck, as you arched your back and swayed your hips against his crotch. It took everything in him not to moan at the unexpected, and new, contact. He tried to correct himself rather quickly, picking up with the new rhythm of the song, but you hadn’t missed his moment of shock. 

His cock stirred within his jeans, and he prayed to whatever God was listening that he could keep himself calm enough that you wouldn’t notice. His grip upon your hips had tightened significantly, not that you minded, and his hips would occasionally brush against your ass whenever you circled your hips a bit too far backwards. He had never danced like this before, it was so different from what he was used to, but it was exhilarating all the same. He could see why Sam had brought him here, though he still wouldn’t quite call it relaxing. Relaxing is sitting in a quiet bar and sipping one too many beers before heading home. This, this was stirring something within him that he hadn’t felt in quite a while. Their bodies moved together so perfectly, well, as perfectly as they could for too tipsy people. 

As the second song began to meld into a third, you stood back to your full height and spun back around to face Bucky. You gave him a quick smile before leaning up to murmur into his ear, “I think I’m all danced out for the night.”

He raised a brow, nodding his head and eyeing you over. He leaned himself down to speak directly into your ear, just as he had earlier. “What can I get you to drink?” 

His breath fanning upon your neck caused a shiver to wrack through your body, something he certainly noticed. You bit down upon your bottom lip, shaking your head. “I’ve already had too many tonight, but thank you. I think it’s about time for me to head home.” 

As you spoke your words, you tore your eyes away from his captivating gaze and began to search for your friends. Several moments passed, and you still couldn’t find them, your brows furrowing and plump lips forming into a pout. Bucky’s hands still hadn’t removed themselves from your hips, his bottom lip tucking between his teeth as he stared down at your pouting lips. He shook himself out of it long enough to realize you were searching for your friends, and his skilled eyes scanned the room quickly. His own brows furrowed when he didn’t seem to catch a glimpse of them. When he turned his attention back towards you, you had your phone out and were staring down at a notification on your phone. 

Your pout seemed to deepen as you read the texts from your friends. They had left you, something about the one finding a guy to take home, and the other desperately needed to sleep for work in the morning. They hadn’t wanted to ruin your chance with Mr. Mysterious, now known as Bucky. You glanced back up towards Bucky, realizing he was now looking down at your phone as well. Your cheeks flushed as you imagined him reading the texts. “Uh, they both left me. I don’t live too far, I’ll just walk myself home.” You stated aloud, the last bit more aimed towards yourself as you came to the realization that you’d be leaving the club alone. 

“I’ll walk you,” Came Bucky’s immediate reply, beginning to escort you away from the center of the dance floor, his hand still pressed against your hip. There was no way he was going to let her wander off into the night alone, not after admitting to having a few too many drinks. 

You blinked in a bit of shock, not expecting the kind gesture. “Uh,” You stuttered, “Sure.” You smiled gratefully at him, letting him lead you off of the dance floor and out of the club. 

The moment the two of you stepped onto the streets of New York, Bucky audibly sucked in a deep breath and sighed. You raised your brow as he did, the ringing in your ears almost keeping you from catching it. “Too loud for you?” You asked, a small smirk pulling at your lips. 

He let out a breathy laugh, nodding his head. “Yeah, way too loud.” He raised a hand up and rubbed at his ear, placing emphasis on his words. 

You chuckled softly, “You’ll get used to it. The ringing will go away….eventually,” You teased. You had to admit, the reprieve from the music at the end of a night out was always something you cherished. Just as you cherished the cool night air of the city, something that made you happy to live so close by to your favorite spot. His hand moved to the small of your back as you began to walk further and further away from the club, the music finally dropping down to the volume of a low hum. 

Bucky scoffed playfully, “Eventually?” He repeated, a smirk now pulling at his own lips. “I’m going to have permanent ear damage from this,” He joked. 

You couldn’t help but giggle softly, nodding your head. “You’re not exactly wrong.” 

“How much further until we’ve reached your place?” He questioned after a few moments of comfortable silence. 

You rose your head from glancing down at your boots as you walked, taking in your surroundings for a second. “Mm, another block.” 

Bucky nodded his head, returning back to the silent walk for a moment or two before speaking up again. “So, it seemed like you and your friends were celebrating something? I saw you all toasting your shots when I first arrived.”

Your brows furrowed for a moment as you wondered how he had realized that, however a chuckle escaped from you as he explained. You nodded your head. “Ah, yes.” You paused for a moment. “We were celebrating my first night out as a single woman,” You spoke your last two words with emphasis, unable to hold back the chuckle that escaped right afterwards. 

This intrigued Bucky, his brows raising slightly. “Oh? Well, congratulations. I hope you enjoyed yourself.” His hand that was resting upon the small of your back moved to your hip just long enough to give it a quick squeeze. 

A blush formed across your cheeks, your bottom lip tucking in between your teeth once more. “Yes, I did.” You felt your cheeks darken further as you opened your mouth to speak again, “I had actually planned to find someone to take home as a one-night stand,” You joked, a slight laugh escaping from you as you glanced up towards your building, halting your steps. 

Bucky felt as if his breath had caught in his throat for a moment, but thankfully your abrupt stop bought him some time to formulate a response. His tongue swept across his bottom lip, wetting it, before speaking. “Uh, well, I could still be that.” His steel blue orbs were staring directly at your face, awaiting for you to turn your attention back towards him. 

His words had immediately caught your attention, your head whipping to meet your eyes with his. You surveyed his face for a moment, realizing he was being completely serious. Your eyes flickered down to his lips, then back to his eyes. He took this as a sign to step forward, closing the small gap between the two of you. His gloved hand gently took a hold of your jaw, dragging your lips to his. You moaned softly at the feeling of his soft lips against yours, his light stubble brushing against your cheeks. Your opposite hand rose to rest upon the side of his face, the kiss deepening as his tongue forced its way into your mouth. He tasted of the beer he had been drinking all night. You tasted like all of the fruity concoctions of alcohol you had been sipping on. He moaned as his tongue wasted no time in exploring every inch of your mouth, devouring the taste of you, stealing your breaths as his own. 

As the two of you parted for some much needed air, you took a few steps backward to unlock the main entry to your building. He was right behind you, pushing open the heavy door the moment that it had been unlocked. He followed you up the two flights of stairs, eagerly waiting as you dug around for your keys in your small purse, his arms encircling your waist as he placed wet kisses to your exposed neck. His distractions proved to affect your concentration, as you struggled to get your key in the lock and open the door. He was right behind you again, his gloved hand pushing open the door so that you wouldn’t have to. As soon as you were both inside and the door was shut, he had you pinned up against it. Your lips met again, this time much more desperately, and his hands roamed your entire form, before settling upon grabbing handfuls of your plump ass. 

He forced himself to pull away from your lips. “Are you sure about this?” 

You nodded your head, letting out a quiet whimper as his hands gave a tight squeeze to your ass. 

“I need you to use your words, Doll.” He commanded. 

His tone of voice elicited another whimper from you as you felt your arousal begin to dampen your panties. “Yes, I’m sure.” 

Bucky let out a growl as his super soldier senses picked up on the scent of your arousal, and he did not need to be told twice that you were sure. His hands slipped from your ass to beneath the back of your thighs, hiking you up until your legs were wrapped around his thick waist. Your clothed pussy pressed right against his strained erection, eliciting a moan from the both of you. 

His lips pressed against the delicate skin of your neck, leaving a trail of wet kisses on any part that he could reach. “Where’s your bedroom?” He muttered against your skin. 

You murmured the response out in between moans, raising a hand to point into the direction that led to your bedroom door. Bucky wasted no time in getting to his new destination. Before you knew it, you were being thrown backwards upon your bed, bouncing a few times as you impacted with the mattress. You sat up upon your elbows and began to scoot further up the bed when Bucky shook his head, grasping you by your ankles and tugging you back to the edge of the bed. A gasp escaped from you from the motion, another following quickly after as he dropped to his knees and began pressing kisses to your inner thighs. You squirmed impatiently in his hold, a soft moan falling from your lips, “Please,” You begged. 

Bucky’s teeth sunk into the soft skin of your thighs, his mouth leaving behind several marks that were sure to stay for several days. “Patience, Doll.” He scolded, his mouth now hovering right over where you needed him most. You squirmed beneath him once more, and his left arm laid across your hips, holding you in place. If you hadn’t already been so desperate for his touch, you would’ve noticed his arm was heavier than what was normal. His hot breath fanned over your clothed pussy, seconds later his tongue pressed flat against the silky material of your underwear. He moaned at the taste of you, and you moaned at the feeling of his tongue right where you needed him. However, it wasn’t enough, and you tried to buck your hips, whining pathetically at the lack of friction. 

He tsked at your response, removing his tongue from your pussy to sink his teeth back into your plushy thigh as punishment. The sharp pain only made you wetter, a moan falling from your lips as your arousal soaked your underwear. He pressed his nose against your clothed pussy, inhaling deeply. “Fuck, doll, you smell amazing.” 

His words elicited a mewl from you, “Please, Bucky, please!” You desperately needed him to touch you, your thighs unable to clench together for some relief due to him laying between them. 

He hummed a response, seemingly deciding to take pity on your desperation. His hands rose up to grasp at your underwear and yank them down your knees, sliding them off of your legs until he could toss them freely somewhere in your bedroom. His hot mouth hovers over your pussy once more, this time finally free of the barrier your underwear produced. His blue eyes are staring directly up at you, your elbows propping your weight up so that you can watch as he pleasures you. His tongue teasingly licks a strip up your folds. Once, twice, three times, before you’re entangling your fingers into his hair, begging him to please stop teasing you. 

He chuckles softly at the sound of you begging him, his lips wrapping around your clit as he gives it a soft, teasing suck. His tongue goes back to lapping up your arousal, his fingers holding you open as he inserts his hot muscle inside of you. Fucking you with his tongue. “Oh, fuck!” You curse openly, your walls already clenching as your orgasm begins to build at a pathetically fast pace. He retracts his tongue from your pussy, moving back to focusing upon your clit, swirling and sucking at the sensitive bud mercilessly. You cry out from the pleasure, your eyes squeezing shut at the intensity. One of his fingers pokes and prods at your entrance, gathering the slick before sliding deep inside, then a second follows. Your mouth falls open in a silent gasp, his finger curling upwards and hitting the spot that makes you see stars behind your eyelids. 

Your thighs quivered around his head, your fingers pulling at the tufts of his hair that they were tangled in. The coil within your lower stomach was beginning to tighten, begging for the pressure to be released. “Bucky, I’m gonna cum,” You whined out. 

His movements slowed slightly, “Already, sweetheart?” He teased, already knowing that you were close from the feeling of your walls fluttering around his fingers. Your only response was a whimper, followed by a louder moan as his tongue resumed flicking at your clit. His fingers increased their pace, angling perfectly to hit your g-spot and drive you over the edge. 

“Cum for me, doll.” He murmured against your pussy. 

His words were the last thing you needed to reach your peak. Your walls clenched around his fingers tightly, as they still pumped in and out of you to milk you of your orgasm. His name fell from your lips like a prayer. His mouth still sucked your clit until you were pushing his head away due to overstimulation. Your chest heaved as you tried to catch your breath, however you didn’t have much time, as Bucky quickly repositioned you so that you were on all fours.

 You heard the familiar sound of a belt buckle being undone and his zipper shortly thereafter. Moments later, you felt the head of his cock pressing against your entrance. He teased you by running the head of his cock up and down your slit, purposefully bumping against your still sensitive clit before he lined himself up with your entrance. You hadn’t even gotten a chance to see how large he was, but oh, did you feel it. He pushed himself inside of you with one smooth thrust, burying himself completely in your walls. 

“Oh, Bucky!” You cried out, the familiar burning feeling of being stretched out completely overtaking your senses. He remained still for a few moments, allowing you time to adjust to his length and girth, as well as giving him time to ground himself within your pussy. Even though you had just came, you were extremely tight around him. 

“Fuck, doll,” He groaned out, his hands gripping harshly at your hips. His hold was sure to leave bruises the next morning, but you didn’t care. This was the best you’d ever been fucked, and he’d barely started. 

“Please, move,” You moaned out, trying to push your hips backwards in order to feel the friction that you craved. He complied almost immediately, his hips drawing backwards, only to snap forward once more. The first thrust had moans escaping from the both of you, and soon after he set a brutal pace. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to last long, not even able to remember the last time he enjoyed spending time with a woman. The only sound that filled your apartment, and probably your poor neighbor’s, was that of skin slapping against skin and the wanton moans that fell from your lips. Occasionally, your ears would be graced with the sound of his own moans and groans of pleasure. 

“Fuck, you feel so good. So tight around my cock,” He managed to grit out in between thrusts. His right hand came down to spank your ass cheek harshly, his hand massaging the red mark shortly after. 

You whimpered out in response to the smack against your behind, the sharp pain adding to the immense pleasure that his cock was currently pistoning through you. You could already feel the beginnings of a second orgasm building within the pit of your stomach. His cock was reaching places inside of you that you didn’t even know could be reached. You weren’t even sure if you’d be able to walk the next morning—more than likely not. His right hand left your hip and snaked itself around so that his finger was able to press against your sensitive bud. The pressure alone had you clenching around him, and when he began to trace fast circles around your clit, you were almost done for. 

His cock was beginning to swell and twitch deep inside of you, warning the both of you that his release was just as near as yours. He pressed a bit harsher upon your clit, the speed of his thrusts increasing as he worked towards chasing both of your orgasms. “C’mon, cum for me one more time, princess.” He grunted out. 

 You’d never want to admit just how much the pet names were working for you, but his words were once again the last thing you needed to push you over the edge. Your entire body stilled, your fingers grasping at the covers beneath you so tightly that your knuckles turned white. Your walls fluttered around him so beautifully, your eyes rolling into the back of your head as you cried out his name. A few more thrusts and he was cumming with you, his cock swelling and twitching within you as his hot seed coated your walls. His seed never seemed to stop, each twitch of his cock shot another hot rope of cum deep inside of you. After several moments, he was finally finished, his hands finding purchase upon the bed as his forehead dipped to rest upon your back. You were panting beneath him, trying to catch your breath after the best orgasm you’d ever had. Bucky sucked in a breath of air before pulling himself free from you, his seed beginning to drip out and onto the covers now that it had nothing keeping it inside. He pressed a light kiss to your shoulder before he moved to stand before the bed. 

He began to shrug off his leather jacket, having been too excited to have bothered taking it off earlier—just as your dress had simply been hiked up. Though, there was another reason why he had kept it on. As you rolled over onto your back, still catching your breath, he stood there glancing down at you, a small smile on his face. 

“Baby!” Sharon called out as she entered her home. It was strange not for you to greet her with excitement and kisses. 

Sharon scoped throughout the house till she found you laying on the cold linoleum of the guest bathroom. “What’s wrong?” 

“Sick,” you groaned as a chill washed over you. 

Sharon crouched down and pressed the back of her hand to your sweaty forehead. She didn’t need to be a medical professional to know you were running a high fever. You preened against her cold hands. “How did this happen?” 

You could barely shrug your shoulders. “Maybe I ate something bad.” 

“We eat the same things so if that were the case I’d be sick too.” Something about this was off to Sharon. “At least I know you’re not pregnant.” 

You tried to lightly laugh at that remark but you cried as it made your whole body ache. 

“Did you get out? Did you leave?” 

“What’re you talking about?” You whined in pain. 

“If you didn’t get sick from the food and I’m not sick then that means you caught it from someone else.” Sharon left her nurturing perch, standing with a stern expression. “Who else have you been around!”

“No one,” you coughed pathetically like a sick orphan child actor playing the role of a kid dying of the Black Plague. 

“Why are you lying?” She was fuming with rage. 

“I didn’t go anywhere.” You began to weep, your body too exhausted and fragile to handle anything else. “Sometimes people get sick.” 

“Oh so now you’re a smart girl and wanna talk back?” Sharon scoffed. She wanted to kick you in the stomach as you lay on the floor but she’d rather not deal with your vomit on the ground. “I thought we were over this, now you’re being bad again. Am I not good enough for you? You’re mine, got that?” 

You nodded with a sniffling cry. “I’m sorry, please, I’m sorry. I don’t know how I got sick, I promise I never left.” 

“You’re a liar!” Sharon yelled. “Whatever, you can stay in here and think long and hard about what you’ve done and what you’re gonna be doing once you feel better.” She stomped out of the bathroom. 

“Yeah, well if I were to escape, trust me I wouldn’t come back here.” You mumbled under your breath but it must’ve been loud enough for Sharon to hear. She stood in the doorway, gripping the white wood of the door.

“You’re so lucky I love you because if I didn’t I’d fucking slit your throat for talking to me like that.” She slammed the bathroom door shut, locking it from the outside.

 She felt her body shake with anger as she paced her office. She was trying to get anything done but all she could think about was you. How pitiful and sick you looked and how she wanted to take care of you just as much as she wanted to slap you. She wanted to hold you, give you medicine and a cool bath and do anything she can to make you feel better. 

She thought of how you had a faint smile when you saw her come in. Like you had missed her dearly and were happy to not be left alone. And Sharon exploded on you and hurt you in the process. Sharon tried not to cry at the thought of it. But it doesn’t make sense. How could you have gotten sick if Sharon didn’t either? Sharon hadn’t gotten sick in years. You had to have been around other people, you must be getting out when she’s gone. 

But you were still here, and if you had left you still came back. You hadn’t had a break-out attempt in so long, nothing was adding up. 

The sound of you throwing up from upstairs made her heartbreak, she should be there, holding you and rubbing your back. 

“Fuck it,” Sharon sighed. “She needs me.” 

As Sharon left her office, her phone began to ring, and she grew confused on why anyone would be calling her. And once she read the caller ID she was even more confused. “Hello?” 

“Hi, Ms.Carter.” The voice of their housekeeper sounded hoarse and painfully congested. “One of my grand babies gave me some sort of flu and I won’t be able to come in today or tomorrow.” 

Fuck

It all clicked at once 

Fuck 

The housekeeper, Mavis, was the other person you were around. 

You liked to help Mavis out. Sharon told you not to, that it’s she’s paying her to work but you liked having company and that she reminded you of your grandma. 

Mavis usually comes when Sharon is at work so they don’t often engage with each other in person. 

“Ms. Carter?” 

“Yes, Mavis.” Sharon’s train of thought broke. “Take as many days off as you need, it’s no problem.” 

As the call ended she sent a text to one of her assistants, Darius. ‘Send a doctor over right away, my girl is running a high fever.’

Sharon’s heart broke. You weren’t lying, you hadn’t gotten out. You just liked spending time with Mavis and got sick in the process. She was so mean to you when you just needed her to take care of you. 

Sharon quietly entered the guest bathroom she had locked you in, seeing you had fallen asleep on the cold bathroom tile. She got down on the ground beside you, stroking your hair behind your ear. 

“Mommy?” You sniffled, waking up. “I’m sor-“

“It’s okay,” Sharon interrupted. “Mavis just called, she’s sick too. I’m sure you just caught it from her, my love.” 

You weaseled your head into her lap not bothering to conceal your crying. “I love you, I don’t wanna leave. Just want you, mommy.” 

“I love you too,” She cooed. Your weakened state making you like a sick kitten that didn’t wanna be left alone made her heart beat faster. You needed her. “I’m gonna take care of you, okay?” 

She felt you nod in her lap. “Darius called for a doctor, they should be here soon.” 

You squirmed. “No doctors! Please, I don't wanna see a doctor.” 

“Shh, I’m gonna hold you the entire time and he’s gonna help you feel better.” Sharon just wanted you to be better. 

You pushed yourself from her lap. “Mommy, I’m gonna get you sick. You have to go away.”

Sharon tried to hide her grin from your precious attempt. “I won’t get sick. And if I do I have the cutest little nurse in the world to take care of me.” 

Before you could protest to her trying to corral you in her lap again the doorbell ringing pulled her away. “Don’t try to stand up you’re too weak. I’m gonna go get the doctor and it’ll be okay.” 

Sharon made the doctor show his identification at the outside security cam before letting him in. She couldn’t chance it, not when it came to you. 

“I can’t home about an hour and a half ago and I found her in the bathroom. She’s running a fever and puking and she’s just in a lot of pain. You need to make her better.” Sharon explained holding back tears at the thought of it all and how she left you from anger. If the doctor couldn’t heal you she was gonna shoot him in the head then find a doctor who could. 

You glanced at the pair when they approached the bathroom. “Honey, this is Dr. Baggs, he’s gonna take care of you.” 

You only nodded before you started crying again. “Do you think you can get in the bed so he can have a better look at you?” 

You nodded again, shakily latching onto Sharon, the doctor helping to stabilize you on your other side and walk you only a few feet to the guest bed. 

Sharon had you settled into the lightweight crisp white sheets before laying on the opposite side of you. You grabbed her hand in a bruising grip as you felt fear coursing through your veins. “It’s okay, he knows what he’s doing.” She reassured you with a kiss on the temple. 

The doctor asked a series of questions while taking your vitals. You weakly just whimpered out a yes or a no but Sharon tried to talk for you as much as she could. 

“There’s been the flu going around, this has been my third case. It feeds through pretty quick, less than 24 hours so you’re already around halfway through with it.” The doctor gave a comforting smile and you tried to smile back realizing this will be over soon. “If it’s alright with you Ms. Carter, I have an IV of saline in my medical bag. We can at least replace her fluids and I can give her something to sleep it out.” 

You grabbed her hand tighter before shaking your head. “No needles, mommy. Please, please, please.” You begged 

Sharon kissed your hand which was changing color from circulation with the way you were squeezing hers. “It’s so fast and you’ll feel so much better.” 

You sobbed, begging for it not to happen. 

“Look at me baby,” she gently turned your chin to look at her. “You’re mommy’s brave little girl, and I know you can take it.” 

“But mommy- Ow!” You yelped turning your head to see the doctor already injecting you while you were distracted. 

“See, love? You’re such a good girl and you’re so brave and it barely even hurt right?” Brushed your sweat-soaked hair from your face. 

“I guess it didn’t hurt too much…” you were stubborn and didn’t like admitting that you were wrong and once again she was right. 

“You’re such a brave girl for me.” Sharon kissed your forehead, her lips like their own medicine against your skin. “Gonna make sure you get better.” 

Before the Doctor left he pumped you up with a bunch of drugs, making you feel like you were floating on a cloud. Sharon stayed curled up next to you in bed, playing old movies that you liked, and made sure you had enough to drink. 

Sharon looked down at your sleeping form, beginning to fall asleep with the faint blue light of the tv in the background and she didn’t realize how badly the thought of you betraying her could feel. She’d die before she let you leave. 

/////

A/N: If you follow me you know my mom recently died so I haven’t super been into mommy kink for a while so if it seems choppy I went in and add mommy so that it would flow with the continuity of the story. 

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The warmth of mid-morning had crept into the room, leaving you grateful for the thin, mismatched pajamas that you had worn to bed the night before. The sunlight streaming through the kitchen curtains stole your attention momentarily as you traced the spots where the rays landed on the wooden tabletop in front of you.

“Blueberries or strawberries?” Bucky spoke, drawing your attention to the plate of golden-brown pancakes held in his vibranium hand.

“Bananas,” you answered decidedly.

The first time Bucky had attempted his hand at cooking, you’d spent the morning scraping pancake batter from the cabinets, consoling your chagrined counterpart and his wounded ego. After countless attempts, he’d managed to fine-tune his technique, proudly showing off his skills with any chance he got.

“Bananas,” he echoed, grabbing the fruit from its place on the countertop.

This had become a tradition for the two of you – spending Sunday mornings away from the rest of the world, enjoying each other’s company in secluded bliss.

Bucky slid your plate in front of you, placing a kiss to your hairline before settling into his seat. You grinned gratefully at him, mumbling your thanks and grabbing the maple syrup from the middle of the table.

Fixing your plate in silence, you appreciated the familiar clinking of silverware against porcelain – the sound of good company and simple pleasure.

Bucky poured his coffee, stirring a spoonful of sugar into his mug. To anyone else, the hint of sweetness would go unnoticed; you thought the saccharine undertone was the perfect analogy for your brunet counterpart.

You passed the syrup over to Bucky, licking the sticky sweetness from your thumb with a pleased hum. He accepted the bottle from you, mindful of the molasses trailing down the side.

“This looks amazing,” you praised, eyes wide as saucers as you admired Bucky’s work.

The fluffy pancakes were perfectly centered on your plate, framed by the green ivy wreath that adorned all of your dishes. Bucky had picked the set himself, noting that the print reminded him of the chipped, faded set that his mother had owned. Still sometimes, he imagined her joining the two of you for Sunday breakfast, like two lifetimes melded together over tiny, shared details.

“Thank you, sugar,” he replied from behind his steaming mug.

You grabbed your fork from the table, digging into your breakfast happily. Bucky followed suit, picking a strawberry from the edge of his plate and popping it into his mouth.

The two of you shared light conversation through mouthfuls of food, appreciating the moment of stillness in your everchanging lives. No matter what you were faced with, Sunday would always meet you again.

Bucky finished first, pushing his plate away with a groan. “I always make too many pancakes,” he noted, running his hand over his face.

“There’s no such thing as too many pancakes,” you laughed, pointing your fork in his direction.

You finished eating just after Bucky, praising him again before gathering the dishes to wash.

“Let me help,” Bucky offered, grabbing the mugs and following you to the sink.

The two of you worked in tandem, close enough that your shoulders touched while standing over the soapy water. You took over scrubbing the dirty dishes while Bucky stood beside you with a towel over his shoulder.

“What should we do today?” you asked, handing Bucky a plate to dry.

“Maybe a nap,” he suggested after a thoughtful pause.

You shook your head playfully, laughing at his plans. “We just woke up.”

He left your side momentarily, putting the clean dishes away before returning and wrapping his arms around your waist.

“It’s Sunday,” he mumbled into your shoulder. “We deserve to relax.”

“That’s true,” you agreed, drying your hands and leaning into Bucky’s frame behind you. “I can never argue with your logic.”

The two of you were quick to settle on the couch, a pile of blankets pooling over you and Alpine curled up at your feet. The feline had joined you just after breakfast, purring softly at the notion of a midday nap.

“Are you comfortable?” Bucky asked, his thumb tracing over your side as he held you close to his chest.

Bucky had yet to open his eyes as he continued to descend from the high that the two of you had reached.

They remained closed even as you tucked yourself more into his warmth, draping a leg over his and brushing your fingertips over the dusting of dark hair on his chest. If it was possible, it seemed as though he’d gotten stronger in the time he was overseas. There was a new solidness to his muscularity. You’d realized whenever you squeezed his biceps or dragged your nails down his back. And there was even more swiftness and ease to the way he’d guided and maneuvered your body as the two of you made love.

When your palm came to rest over Bucky’s heart, he spoke up.

“Never gonna be gone that long again.”

You studied his features for a few seconds. “We can only hope not.”

“No.” He opened his eyes and turned his head towards you. “M’gonna make sure. Already don’t like leaving you as it is,” he said.

“You don’t?” You were only teasing. Not for the fun of it, but because welcoming that sliver of lightheartedness soothed the dread that came along with the thought of being without him for that long again.

Bucky didn’t say anything, but his hand moved to rub your bare thigh beneath the sheets. His touch wasn’t featherlight as if seeking to provoke goosebumps. It was firm, consoling. You nuzzled your nose into his shoulder and breathed him in as if you’d never get enough. He smelled faintly of a warm musk. Like a forest somewhere where the sun was shining that you wanted to lose yourself within.

After a few moments feeling the gentle beats of his heart against your palm, you trailed your hand further down his torso, stopping just beneath his belly button. Your fingertips followed an invisible path as they graced the sensitive space between his hip bones. He shifted after a while.

“Tickles, babydoll,”' he murmured.

You stilled your hand and offered him a small smile as you looked up into his eyes. “Sorry.”

Perhaps you shouldn’t have looked up. It had become more evident that he was tired, but there was an intensity to his gaze that hadn’t been there before. Not the type that instilled fear, but the type that dared you to acknowledge it, that wanted you to. And because of it, you became all the more aware of the things you weren’t saying that existed within the silence between you. Namely, the fact that he’d been gone on a mission for a long time—a painfully long time—and there had yet to be boundaries set in place to ensure that didn’t happen again.

Everything weighed down all at once.

Tears pricked in your eyes. But they didn’t fall right away because you were thinking too hard. When they did, everything in your mind spilled out with them. And when you hid your face in Bucky’s chest in search of refuge, he let you; he was the one thing that you could see, touch, and smell to stay grounded within the bittersweet reality you had found yourself within. You loved him with everything that you had.

“I don’t like when you leave either,” you said, remembering his statement from earlier. Your voice came out smaller than you would’ve liked.

“Well, you don’t have to worry about losing me like that again,” he said. “We’re gonna be okay.”

You nodded as best you could, and met his gaze again. He used the pad of his thumb to wipe the fresh tears rolling down your cheeks. And when he finished, you took his hand in yours and stared at his fingers, the lines of his palm. Then you brought it to your lips and kissed it right in the center.

We’re gonna be okay.

-

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“Babe? You home?” A muffled ‘in here’ came from the garage/workshop. Sam was sitting on one of the benches, staring at the shield in front of him. “I don’t think that thing is going to give you the answers to life my love.” They expected him to turn and give them a playful glare but he just remained in place, sighing quietly.

They stepped forward and wrapped their arms around his strong shoulders, burying their face in his neck and giving him a small kiss. “What’s going on?” “I’m not worthy of it. I’m not like him, I can never be him.” They rounded the bench and took his face in their hands, lifting his chin up so they could look into those gorgeous brown eyes. “What are you talking about Sam?”

He tried to move his head out of their grasp but they held firm, not budging an inch. They raised a single eyebrow and watched as the fight faded in his eyes. “I just, I-“ Tears gathered along his water line, a couple fat drops spilling over which Y/N immediately ripped away. “Tell me what’s wrong baby.” “Steve gave me the shield when he retired, and I can never be him. I can’t pick up that mantle. I’m not strong enough.” “Oh my love, Steve would’ve never given you that shield if he didn’t believe in you and consider you to be the best person for the job.

“Besides, who else would he have given it to? Bucky?” That made Sam chuckle, “You are a good man Samuel Thomas Wilson. Steve saw that, Bucky sees that, I see it. You deserve this shield and I know if he was here, Riley would agree with me too.” He was full-on crying now, but his shoulders were slumped as if a huge weight had been lifted off of them. He brought his partner into a tight hug, burying his face in their neck. “Thank you. But I-” “Alright, come on Cap, we have something we have to do.”

They took his hand and dragged him through the house. Their bedroom took up the entire top floor of the quant house and perfectly overlooked the secluded lake they lived in. Y/N loved waking up in the morning to see the sun rising over the water as their husband slept peacefully on their chest. But the view they had now was even better.

They had shoved Sam on the bed after removing his shirt so his toned chest and ripped abs were on display for them. They kissed down his body, nipping his perfect skin as they mapped a path down his torso. “You’re so perfect Sam. So amazing. So kind. So gentle. So hot.” He moaned, the sound coming from deep within his chest as they circled his nipple with their tongue and lightly biting down, just hard enough for his hips to jerk upwards.

“God baby please.” Y/N ignored his pleas, continuing to worship every inch of skin before them. “You always take such good care of me. It’s my turn now. Let me love my husband the way he deserves. Until he believes me when I tell him that he is worthy, more worthy than he thinks.” But despite their words, they took pity on him, slowly dragging the waistband of those delectable grey sweatpants down his thick thighs. His cock smacked against his lower stomach, leaving droplets of pre-cum on the little trail of dark hair below his belly button.

Y/N moaned at the 9 thick inches of pure pleasure that had just enough curve to it that every time he thrust into them, he hit the exact right spot. “Such a pretty cock baby. The prettiest I’ve ever seen and it’s all mine.” A devious smirk was all the warning Sam got before Y/N took his cock completely down their throat. “Holy fuck!” His body hinged forward, curling around his spouse’s head, as if trying to keep them in place.

Sweat dripped down his back as they worked his length perfectly. They licked the little spot on the underside of his dick, just below the tip while one hand fondled his balls. Sam shuttered at the feeling. He was almost never vocal in bed, only really speaking dirty phrases into their ear and giving soft groans as he neared his end but now, as his perfect, gorgeous partner gagged on him but refused to relent, his moans rang through the house, his voice getting deeper as he got closer.

His legs shook as their nails dragged down his thighs, cutting into him as an attempt to stop choking on his massive cock. “Baby stop, I wanna make you feel good too.” They came up for air but continued to stroke him with their hand. “Not today. Today is all about you. My incredible husband, let me worship you.” With that, they returned to sucking him off. His cock twitched wildly in their mouth, his balls tightening up as his orgasms grew and grew. “Baby I’m gonna cum!”

“Cum for me. Come on Captain, give it to me.” He growled at the name, hips canting upwards, chasing the tightness of their fist while they nibbled on his earlobe and spoke filthy praises into his ear. “You’re so brave, so strong. Such an amazing man. I have no idea how I got lucky enough to marry you. You’re my soulmate captain, the love of my life. Cum for me, let go.”

“Fuuuuuucckkkkk!” Hot ropes of cum coated Y/N’s hand as they worked him through his high, slowly loosening their grip when he became too sensitive. They kissed his cheek. “I love you Sam.” He sagged back onto the pillows, chuckling breathlessly. “If that’s what I get for being insecure, I’m definitely not going to take that shield.” Y/N glared at him. “Oh baby, that was a one time thing. Next time you question your worth, I’m using those ropes you love to use on me to tie you up and edge you for hours.” The serious expression on their face stopped Sam’s laugh in his throat.

“Damn you are scary.” “Damn right I am. Now turn over, I have something I need to do.” He looked at them confused but obeyed anyway. Once he was flat on his front, Y/N bent over and bit one of his ass cheeks. Sam yelped. “What the hell was that for?!”

“I’m sorry but America’s ass just looked so delectable.” And all of a sudden, the air of sadness in the house disappeared and was replaced by Sam’s laughter and unconditional love.

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     THE SERPENT

Baron Helmut Zemo did not fear much. 

He did not fear loss, or war as he had lived through both. He did not fear the promise of hell, or the thrill of death. Though he did fear people with vendettas. He himself was one of them. He had something to prove not just to himself, or the ghosts that followed him around throughout the day. He had to prove to the world that heroism breeds reckless naivety. That power and pedestals brought only destruction. That the Avengers were mere matches and embers, flitting about the mountains of paper and wood that made up the world. That everything they touched, ended up burned through. He wanted people to realize their impact, before everything was reduced to ash and char. Both of which still stained him. 

His reign to prove this, or what the media called his ‘bout of revenge’ was a broad thing. It was all encompassing. It was about every rich and powerful monster that walked this earth. The ones given a shield and an unlawful serum who went on to be gods. 

The ones called ‘heroes’. 

It took meticulous planning. And in the end he still fumbled to exact his revenge. What the puppeteer once believed to be strings, were actually intricate, sticky and acidic webbing that broke off at his mere brush of a touch. Still he had grasped at them. Whispers of promise dissolving at his grip, cloying and sticky on his greedy hands. Crimson ink and transparent veins of destiny tying his hands around in knots. 

The hands that once held a wife. Once held a son.

 All he could taste was ash now. All he saw was charred and gutted houses, rubble. 

In the end, the Avengers had nothing to fear. 

He was calculated, but unfocused on a single subject. He was not lacking in passion or precision. But his plan failed all the same because he did not burn with the fire they did. 

That you do. 

That goes to say that if Helmut Zemo,  the former baron of the fallen country Sokovia feared anything on this earth and the next, it was you. 

Not the cowardly, naive and expendable S.H.I.E.L.D agent he had first met. The one burned, charred to ash and left to crumble by the so-called ‘heroes’. No, there were only hints of danger then.

In your eyes that flitted, never quite resting, like a hummingbird. The glance of your gaze was a palpable thing, near a physical touch. Or the quick wit and thinking he knew from your captivity together. No, then you were but an unpolished rock thrown in with the sought after diamonds and jewels of the Avengers. The real heroes. Then you were just a minor pawn. An expendable asset. 

You weren’t anymore. No he was not scared of you then. 

He was scared of you now. 

He heard about the ways in which you went to grasp webbing. Stealing expendable agents left at Hydra bases just like you had been, over the span of months. The cries for change, that went wholly ignored. 

They did not fear you then, that was their mistake as it was once his. 

They did not take you seriously. The seriously traumatized former shield agent and woman, deemed unworthy by gods and heroes alike for rescue. 

They quickly changed their tune when you gutted a head S.H.I.E.L.D operative on top of his desk. Entrails and crimson seas drowned the hundreds of copies of denied extraction requests strewn about the room. You had made him bleed, burn and ache as you had. 

The hottest fire, the coldest ice and yet instead of ash, you left a flower in your wake. A seed yet to bloom. 

You sparked doubt in the highest ranks of S.H.I.E.L.D for their safety, trickling down to the bottom ranks to form rightful mistrust. Reminding the agents that they could be left behind too. That their own pleas would one day go unanswered by their comrades. 

For that alone, Zemo imagined, is why they named you a terrorist. The fact you killed a high operative was a mere afterthought. It was what the murder meant to others that gave you that label. Enemy of the state and terrorist combined. All flimsy labels that never quite stuck with the force they wished. Mere words that never fully encapsulated you. 

A taste of shame in his mouth burned as he made to even think of them. They did not fit you. For you were no monster he had helped create. You were not a crazy person grown mad from his influence, or that of external traumatizing circumstances. You were not a terrorist. Or an enemy of the state. And he found that he could not define you in words. 

Though comparisons did him no harm. 

So that’s what he did. 

He compared. 

Whispers and sighs of you transformed into things you once had, or could have been. Usually they took the form of a snake. Not the big spotted ones that grew long and lazy, or the cobras and vipers who hissed and shot out with fangs dripping poison. Maybe you were a black mamba, or even once a tentative garden snake. Such as the others. But with a strong will unknown to your serpent peers. An urge to bite, to poison, to harm those who harmed you. To burn. To grow. 

And he had harmed you, oh yes he had done so, so gravely it kept him up at night. The renowned terrorist and former colonel found sleep eluded him when he thought of you. 

You chased him out of dreams, out of sleep, every time he thought of you before bed, or throughout the day.  Which was often. And when the lights of his cell dimmed, you transformed.

In the stagnant silence of his repeating days, when he found the dark, you found him. Now on a cold night of a Monday, he heard the steady long grass in his mind shift. The place in which the memory of you remained still, moved, slithering to the forefront, curling under his brow and pressing with small fangs, to his temple in a fiery kiss.

==

He felt your presence on a late Tuesday. 

Helmut Zemo survived because he was a master manipulator, who was also a master observer. Take for instance, Lenny Orovizc. His longtime Tuesday night shift guard and as the five years prattled on, reluctant acquaintance. 

He was a burly and firm lipped man with a quirk in his brow and a slight lilt in his step. Probably a military injury and the heel lifts did nothing to even, or help his stiff gait as he paced back in between shifts. 

Zemo was deep into the same chapter of Anna Karenina, he always was on a Tuesday, when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise.  Warm shivers erupting from the back of his spine, smoothing up the back of his shoulders, dusting along the fine hairs on his forearms, to encase the back of his hands in an embrace. As if you were warm and pressed against his back, breathing your soft minty breath against his nape. 

Every nerve alight, every hair standing up. Your fangs poised to strike at his jugular, drain his artery. 

Brown eyes flickered up and he found nothing obviously amiss. 

Lenny paced back as he drew to the door to retrieve the hand off of his dinner. Zemo unconsciously flattened his back against the cool glass and watched. His fingers itched against the page, rough and scratchy, too much like your hair had been. 

Everything was the same. Zemo marveled at it. 

The small harrumph as Lenny folded over to grab his tray of slop and grunting. The man had a bad back after all. 

Eyes flitted to see the familiar way the half pressed dress shirt became untucked as his belly spilled over. Thick fingers scrambled for the press of the cool metal slate. Then the firm press of his lips, the serious slit to his pale mouth, the full mustache tickling his bottom lip as he turned. A painting of salt and pepper beard giving way to round high cheekbones. Deep pools of purple under ice blue eyes. 

All the same. 

The clink of keys on his belt. The shift in his approaching walk. The clank of a metal cup against the raised metal lip, the slight shuffle and scrape of his steps. 

Tink, shuffle, scrape. 

Tink, shuffle, scrape. 

Zemo felt his heart do an awful flutter as he moved closer, like a bird was caught in his chest, wildly flitting it’s pale wings about his organs. 

That made him sure. 

“Come get it.” Lenny drawled in his familiar southern accent. The slightest tilt of Canadian accent catching on from his time spent in Vancouver with wife number two. The same dust of freckles and smattering of sun spots that glowed a dull yellow under the fluorescence staring at him. 

 But Zemo knew. 

Although he did not hesitate to bend, hand stilling after the slightest hesitation,  reaching for the reflective plate past the food hatch of his cell wall.  

Before he could even breathe, his hand was pulled sharply by thick grubby fingers and he was slammed against the cool glass and metal wall of his cell so hard his teeth rattled and stark white flashed in his vision. The bright overhead light burned his eyes, the wall crushing his nose as he choked, the taste of ash, metal and spit ripped at his throat as he gasped.   

A sharp strike of electricity ripped up his spine as his eyes met yours.

He felt the familiar hum as Lenny, who was not actually Lenny held him. He recognized it then. The spark in your eyes that never dimmed, no matter who you transformed into. It reminded him of a faraway star, tucked into the expanse of a galaxy. It was just as bright. Burning an icy hue. 

His heart raced so loud in his ears he couldn’t feel anything but you. 

Your features seemed to flicker as if glitching, wrinkly and dry skin giving way to smooth and beautifully soft arm and graceful wrist. He came to focus on the humming of a song at the back of your throat,  as your much smaller fingers tapped an unknown beat at his pulse. 

Blood roared in his ears, sweat sliding down his cupid's bow, quivering as you smiled.  

From the illusion of Lenny Orovizc your face emerged, high cheekbones and long face melding to your stunning visage. He drank in the exact slant and shape of your eyes, the bridge and dip of your nose, the fullness of your lips and all the edges of your stunning face. You hadn’t changed a day; save for the small nick of a scar near your left eyebrow. Your face was haloed by the light, you were crouching on the balls of your feet, your true face framed by your hair, pulled up in a clip at the back of your head. 

Your hand gave his wrist a light squeeze, eyes half lowered and ever serpent like. 

Your lips once painted in a cruel sneer, twisted up into a smirk at Zemo’s evident fear. 

Then the serpent that writhed in his mind, the one holding his hand, spoke in a slow and perfect drawl. 

A mockery.