𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓮 !

          Summer was always a double edged sword.  On the one hand, her class was out and it gave Belle more time to catch up on the hobbies that got set to the side during the school year.  On the other, the kindergarten teacher found herself extremely lonely on those long days.  She could only call her father so often and speaking to inanimate objects only went so far.  So, two years ago she’d started volunteering at the library near her apartment.  Twice a week Belle  helped with reading events.  The library had a selection for her to choose from.  Then, the children helped decide what she’d read for that day.  

          Aesop’s Fables was resting in Belle’s lap.  She was working on reading the second half of the book when she caught a familiar sight out of her eye.  A gentleman who started appearing out of nowhere.  He didn’t seem dangerous.  If anything, he seemed curious.  Calm.  Several times Belle glanced over to see his eyes closed.  Maybe he was simply listening.  Or being a stalker, the book chimed in.  As much as Belle wanted to stop long enough to chide the pages for making that kind of assumption there was a room full of children to think about.

           With the final fable told, a smile spreads across the teacher’s face.  There were a number of reactions.  Many wanted to listen to just one more story.  Another smile.  As much as she wanted to she had to make room for whatever else they were doing at the library that afternoon.  Part of Belle also wanted to step away from the children so she could talk to the man with his eyes closed.

𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐘   new world.  and not just because he was staying mobile and darting in and out of towns and countries all over the world.  no,  his mind was different.  the way he perceived the world was different.  even his own memories felt different.  after being broken from hydra’s hold,  bucky knew that he needed to stay hidden.  not give anyone the chance to catch up to him because the way he saw it,  threats were now on BOTH sides of everything.  if hydra existed,  they’d want him back.  and he sure as hell wasn’t going to start tapping into networks in order to find out because he knew how easy it’d be for them to trace him at that point.  on the other side  —  on steve’s side  —  he was a fugitive.  wanted.  not safe no matter who he’d end up staring down.  so he had to stay HIDDEN.  off the grid.  at least until he could bring himself to fully remember all these flashes of memories and hints of who he was.

france was a new stop.  a bit more hustle and bustle than he liked,  but hiding in a secluded area of the world was too predictable.  he’d be here for a few weeks.  maybe a month if things felt safe enough.  but tourists eyes were everywhere,  and that was a risk.  so he’d monitor the situation closely,  stay on the down low, and  —  a sudden pause to his thoughts came when he felt a small body collide directly into his.  he didn’t stumble,  didn’t budge AT ALL,  actually.  though his metal hand sure did ball up into a fist where it stayed hidden in his pocket.  wide eyes and a wary expression formed as he shifted blue hues to look down at the woman who had stepped into his path,  and he took a moment to assume her level of threat.  it seemed low enough,  though he knew that appearances didn’t always tell enough.

❛  i’m fine.  ❜     words were short,  almost mumbled as he took a minute to stand a little taller.  but upon dropping his gaze to the ground,  he took notice to the item that had previously been in her hands before the collision.  bucky knelt down,  and while he almost pulled his enhanced limb from the pocket,  he thought twice about it before flesh-covered fingers wrapped around the spine of the book and offered it up to her.     ❛  dropped your book.  i’d recommend keeping your eyes on the streets when you’re walking around here.  safety first,  book later.  build up the anticipation some.  ❜   though his words were calm and even light-hearted,  a smile never cracked his lips.  and as he stood back up,  he took another moment to look around.     ❛  are you alright?  ❜

         Belle stumbled back a good few steps.  Good god that was solid.  She had to do a double take to make sure she’d bumped into someone and not something. Small blue birds swirled around her vision like something out of Snow White itself.  Clearing her throat, she readjusted the leather messenger bag hanging near her hip.  Next she smoothed out the loose yellow button down she chose to wear that day.  Possibly a little too bright but, then again, that never mattered to her.  The book was complaining the whole time.  Something about the man’s grip being a little too rough for it’s liking.  But, Belle figured that could be from the fall and not the actual man.  He seemed gentle enough.  Then again, one could never judge a book by it’s cover.  So to speak.

          A smile spreads when she notices the book being handed back to her, despite the complaining coming from the pages themselves.  Hush, she wanted to tell it.  But, Belle learned a long time ago that people thought her crazy when she started talking to inanimate objects.  So, she let it complain.  “ Thank you, “ quiet words hopefully cut through the bustle around them.  Seemed like the traffic continued without a second thought.  Too many busy days to stop for a fallen book, which was such a shame.  Fingers touch over the black cover.  The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace.  Messages of strength.  Reminders to write your own ending.  Sometimes Belle felt like she needed the message.  Brooklyn was a completely different beast than Villeneuve.  Back home she had a firm grasp on who she was.  But, now?

REF - @killypool ( wade )CONTENTS - random asks , always accepting 

         Shaking her head, Belle found herself walking closer to the other.  She stops inches from him.  Head tilts up so that her gaze can search over his features.  There had been a time when Wade frustrated the living daylights out of her.  He did so much to keep a curtain up.  Which, was understandable considering a lot of things.  But it pushed her away in the beginning.

          Tentative fingers lift in hope of cupping one of his cheeks.  “ First of all, you’re not being dumb.  Secondly, we can go over this as many times as you need. “  Belle exhales slowly.  So much pain in one person.  Sometimes she wished they could go back in time so Wade could spend a few minutes with her mother.  They would’ve gotten along rather well, she imagined.  Collette was strong, determined, and feisty.  Belle imagined those sarcasm bouts would go on for hours.

            But, that wasn’t possible.  So she had to lift Wade’s spirits all on her own.