#I’ve never seen maria sam but I can see the potential!!

[imposterogers]

i think two of my favourite mcu rarepairs have to be natsam and mariasam!!! i think both of them are really cute!!

I have been a fan of natsam since 2014 when the winter soldier came out & she gave him this look

they could have been an absolute power couple tbh

#sam wilson #natasha romanoff #I’ve never seen maria sam but I can see the potential!!

[vendettaparker]

Talking to the Moon [P.P]

Summary: When Peter’s identity is leaked, he is forced to leave you and his old life behind, shattering your heart in the process. 

Pairing: Peter Parker x Avenger!Reader

Word Count: 1.8k

Warnings: ANGST, like straight up rip your heart out. Far From Home spoiler (kinda), Endgame spoiler (kinda)

a/n: so if you couldn’t tell this is based off of the song ‘Talking to the Moon’ by Bruno Mars. its a loose interpretation. i’ve been planning an angsty fic like this for a while. angst is my favorite genre of fic, especially when it has a hopeful or fluffy ending. so this one DOES have a hopeful ending and potential for a sequel,, so yuh, enjoy! <3

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     Three years, two months, and 14 days. That’s how long it had been since Peter’s identity was leaked. That’s how long it had been since he left you. For good. 

     Peter had been frantic after that news broadcast aired. He webbed back to the compound immediately, crying the whole way. He was scared for himself, sure, but the fear he felt in the pit of his stomach for May, Ned, MJ, you. That was the reason for his tears now. He could hardly breathe by the time he made it to the compound. Happy, Rhodey, Sam, and Bucky meeting him as he burst through the large floor to wall windows in the main room. The frantic yelling, pleas, and cries coming from the main room were what alerted you to his presence. When you walked in he was a mess. Crying, heaving with anxiety about how scared he was. Peter had always been a sensitive, emotional boy, but he always got over his shit eventually. But this? This, seemed like the end for him. 

     You ran up to him, shushing him and holding him. Trying to tell him to simply “breathe”. All he could say, over and over again like a mantra was a schloo of “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I love you. I’m so sorry.” Your heart broke. How could fate be so cruel to the sweetest boy? The one who was the most deserving of all the happiness life could possibly offer. The rest of the team had shown up within the next hour. Happy, Nick Fury, Maria Hill, and Pepper also present. Peter had calmed down slightly, but he knew, he just knew, this was the day he had to say goodbye. He had had this talk with Mr. Stark back when he had stopped his first villain, Vulture. Tony knew the type of sick monsters out there who would love to get their hands on the boy behind the Spider-man mask. He and Peter had developed a plan in the tragic case that Peter’s identity should be released, at least, not on his own terms. Tony’s plan was for Peter to run away. Leave. Take nothing with him but the clothes on his back, and even then burn those clothes the minute he could. Tony knew. He knew these dangers. And worse, he knew the consequences. 

     May had come to the compound the second she got the call. She knew as well. Peter knew. She knew. Tony, even in his grave, knew. Everyone knew. Everyone but you. 

     Peter had a getaway car and a destination ready within another hour. He wouldn’t disclose it to anyone. He took you aside, gently stroking your cheek to wipe the hot tears that never seemed to cease. “Hey, hey, (Y/N). I’m so sorry.” He whispered, choking up on every other word, trying to be stronger, just a little stronger, for you. “I have to go now. I’m so so sorry. I love you so much.”

     “It’s okay Peter,” You sniffled, pushing his bangs back and giving him a sad smile. “I’ll miss you, but I’ll be here when you get back. Don’t worry.” 

     Peter’s lips quivered and he heaved another sob. “No, (Y/N). I-I’m not coming back.” You took your hand back as you felt the pressure of tears building behind your eyes. 

     “W-what? No, this—it’s just temporary. Until we can—Fury and Pepper—We can fix this.” You stuttered anxiously, hoping your words would convince him that this was okay. That everything would be okay. 

     “We can’t, (Y/N). It’s done.” Peter spoke, his voice hardly making it to a whisper. 

     “No!” You wrapped your arms around his neck, trying to hold him closer. “Please. Please. Please. I-I can’t! You can’t! I—You’re all I have!” You were sobbing uncontrollably now. The weight of the situation finally caving in and crushing your heart and soul. “Please! I’ll do anything, I’ll protect you! Please!” 

     Your meltdown didn’t help Peter one bit, if anything, seeing how desperate you were to keep hold of him, to just love him; that broke him more. “I’m sorry, please forgive me. Please.”

     “How can I? You’re killing me.” You whimpered into his chest, tears soaking through his black sweatshirt. “I can’t— I just— I can’t!”

     The whole team heard. No walls were thick enough to block out the heartbroken sobs from the two teenagers in love. Fury was the one to finally bring an end to it. Nobody else having the heart to pry you from each other. Even Fury felt his own stoic exterior cracking. 

     You were in hysterics, clawing, and grabbing at Peter’s sweatshirt, hair, face, anything you could grab. It didn’t matter if you hurt him at this point, he’d heal. But if he left you, you knew you’d never recover. Fury had put you in a chokehold while yanking you back. Peter just heaved and heaved, his sobs getting louder and his chest getting tighter. May rushed over to him and took his hand, placing his head in her chest. 

     Fury yanked you back more, but you still refused to quit. Fury released his chokehold, not wanting to do any real damage to you. Right as you were released, Wanda came up behind you and placed her hands on your head, red magic already starting to swirl. 

     “No, please.” You wheezed, trying to get a fresh breath of air. “He’s all I have.”

     Wanda looked at you, tears glistening in her eyes. “I’m sorry, (Y/N). I’m so sorry.”

     Without so much as a flick of her wrist, you were out, descending into darkness. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     Peter left after that. The car taking him away, and you hadn’t seen him since. As the months went on you never really recovered. Never really felt whole again. You just survived. That was all. You went through the motions of everyday life, but never truly felt like you were living. Two weeks after Peter left, May left with Happy. They moved to California, living there ever since as well. They got married last year. You were all invited and everyone went. Everyone but you. You missed May and Happy, but it still hurt. Plus, you were busy anyway. After you graduated high school, you flung yourself into the avenger lifestyle, fully immersing yourself in it. You went on every mission possible. Did all the paperwork you could. You did anything and everything you could to keep yourself busy. Stop yourself from feeling the pain that had stopped feeling like a searing stab and had now turned into a dull ache. A new constant in your life. 

     Nights were the worst though. The only time you couldn’t be constantly avenging or working yourself to the bone on new suit technology. The only time you had to think and feel. The only thing keeping you going was the hope that Peter was still out there. Somewhere, anywhere, missing you as much as you were missing him. Watching the same moon you watched. Basking in the same sun that shined on you every day. Every horrible, miserable day. 

     “(Y/N)?” the quiet, soft voice of Pepper breaking you out of your headspace. You hummed a response and looked up at her, waiting for her to continue. “Did you hear what I said?”

     “No, sorry.” You responded sheepishly. Pepper’s gaze softened. She took in your lean figure and pale face, eyes seeming to be sunken in from the dark circles. “I was just finishing up this briefing of my last mission.” 

     “You went alone?” Pepper asked, concern washing over her features.

     “It was a simple one. Just took out a mob, was done in like, four hours.” 

      Pepper sighed. “(Y/N)—”

     “Pep, it’s fine. It was so easy, anyone could have done it.” You cut her off, turning back to your laptop, typing away. 

     “It’s not just that though. It’s all of this. This whole funk you’re in. The same one you’ve been in for years, (Y/N).” Pepper waved her hands around to emphasize her point. “We all see it. You can’t keep doing this to yourself. He wouldn’t want this.” 

     Your whole demeanor changed. The solemn, yet calm veneer breaking. “It doesn’t matter what he wants, Pepper! I didn’t want this. All I wanted was him. For the rest of my life. Nothing else would matter, as long as I had him to get me through it. But I don’t have him. I have nothing. He was it for me. He—” You sobbed, tears finally running down your face in an uncontrollable waterfall. “I feel like I died. Like I am just a spectator, no longer doing anything of interest to myself.” 

     Pepper pulled you into her so fast. She was always quick to console you. The months after Peter left she was the only one you could stomach seeing. “It’s okay. I know, shh, I know.” Pepper was tearing up now too. She knew you never got over it. But now seeing with her own eyes how broken you’d really become. The reality hurt. “He’s out there, okay? And it’s going to be okay. He’s okay. We’re okay.” 

     You just cried. That’s all you could do. The more you tried to talk about it the stronger the urge to cry was. Pepper just hummed and held you. Stroking your hair until you fell asleep. 

     When you woke up you were in your room. It was dark and the moon was shining through the opened window. You just stared at it, closing your eyes and imagining Peter was staring at it too. The same one. Thinking about you, just like you were thinking about him. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     Another few weeks went by. The same routine, the same empty feeling consistent in your body. Nothing changed. The revelation that you were, in fact, not okay didn’t fix anything. It still hurt. You were still broken.

     You were in the training room, sparring with Wanda when the melodic tune of your ringtone rang through the gym, echoing off the walls. You put your hands up in defense to stop Wanda from continuing the match. Wanda whipped her hands around and brought your phone to you in a wisp of red magic. 

     “Thanks.” You mumbled, wiping your sweat off your forehead with the back of your hand and taking the phone from the air. Wanda nodded and jumped out of the ring to grab her water bottle. 

     You looked at your phone still ringing, seeing an unfamiliar number, but taking in the location: Budapest, Hungary. You answered the call bringing the phone up to your ear “Hello?” You asked, shifting from one foot to the other waiting for a reply. A beat of silence pasted before you heard a tired, yet all too familiar voice on the other end. 

     “(Y/N)?”

#peter parker x reader #peter parker x avenger!reader #peter parker angst #marvel #far from home #avengers endgame #endgame #Tom Holland #song inspired #this made me emotional #i cried way harder than i shouldve #sad songs #avengers

[respectablesentiment]

Her arm itches, a deep graze stretching from her elbow to her wrist and smarting in a way that makes Ellie examine it closely, as though she may be bitten. She wasn’t though. Riley had saved her and she didn’t save Riley. It was a blur after that. -- prompt: family, day 4 of elliedina week Ellie's mother doesn't die but Ellie still grows up alone. Ellie was never bitten but she still goes on a journey. Alternative Universe where I ignore two specific parts of canon.

(day 1: ache) | (day 2: dawn) | (day 3: trouble)

or you can read it here: 

Warmth

Family is a complicated word until it isn’t.

She’s never known it until she does.

--

Marlene is the one who finds her after Riley.

Ellie is a bundle of raw nerves, cheeks stained with tears and speckled with blood. She doesn’t think she has anything left to give.

It was meant to be a special night and for a blissful moment it was.

And then it wasn’t.

Riley had been bitten. She saved Ellie’s life and Ellie wasn’t able to save hers.

Riley was her best friend, her person, her something. Her someone with one foot out the door who just agreed to stay.

And now it would be Ellie clinging to Marlene, considering pledging to the Fireflies in her place because one more moment in Boston would make her heart hurt too much.

There must be something extra special in the air, perhaps a shared sense of mourning or grief, maybe Marlene had been more attached to Riley or Ellie than she let on, but she shares something new with Ellie. She knows her mother, a Firefly who was stationed in a lab out west. Still alive.

Ellie isn’t sure if its rage or tears building inside of her, too exhausted to form words or find her way through her emotions.

Mothers were meant to protect and hers clearly hadn’t.

Abandonment was hard to rationalise, but it felt very much like her grief was due to her mother and if she’d never known Riley then Riley would’ve never known her. They’d both be fine and Riley would be alive and her chest wouldn’t hurt like this.

The realisation couldn’t have been recent, it didn’t make sense that Marlene hadn’t told her before. She admits to keeping tabs on Ellie but doesn’t specify why she stayed away.

The offer to journey west with Marlene feels like a form of salvation. She had considered returning to the military school but couldn’t go through with it.

Her arm itches, a deep graze stretching from her elbow to her wrist and smarting in a way that makes Ellie examine it closely, as though she may be bitten. She wasn’t though. Riley had saved her and she didn’t save Riley.

She had cycled rapidly through the first four stages of grief without ever touching acceptance, pacing and screaming and crying for hours. Riley sat resigned in a corner, staring at the gun in her lap as sweat began to build on her brow.

She gave Ellie the gun for protection, kissed her one last time and asked her to walk away.

It was a blur after that.

Marlene gets hurt, Ellie gets lumped with two smugglers and the Capitol building is full of dead Fireflies.

Ellie is fairly certain that either Joel or Tess used to a be parent. Potentially both. Potentially together? She isn’t sure. She overhears bits and pieces of hushed conversations, arguments about how far they are taking her and whether its worth finding the Fireflies and her mother.

Ellie isn’t entirely sure to be honest, the road is gruelling but she’s moving somewhere. Forward, onwards. It’s not like she can move back, and its not like she can stay with Joel or Tess. So onwards it is.

Bill’s town is a shit hole, Pittsburgh is a nightmare, and the suburbs outside of Pittsburgh sends her spiralling. Did Riley turn that way? Fall asleep and wake into oblivion? Was Riley still in there?

Her last conversation with Sam loops over and over in her brain, interrupted occasionally by Tess checking in. Asking and caring in a way that Ellie doesn’t deserve.

“Joel doesn’t handle grief well,” Tess says openly.

Ellie’s eyes flick over to watch Joel ahead of them.

“He pushes it down and refuses to speak about it, but you don’t have to do that,” Tess says, squeezing Ellie in a side hug as they walk. “I’m here whenever you need to speak, or whenever you wanna be silent.”

Ellie nods along but keeps it inside.  

Joel shows care differently. He’s gruff and matter of fact and if there’s nothing that needs to be said then he says nothing. It takes Ellie a while to pick up on it because he’s Joel but he always makes sure she eats enough, that she’s between him and Tess, and he makes her put on a jacket when the weather changes.

The first time they meet Tommy is a turning point. They have power and a town and its nothing like the Boston QZ. Or Bill’s town. Or Pittsburgh.

It’s tempting.

Why rush after an unknown entity? A mother in the distance who abandoned her? Who she’d never known? Would their shared blood just make things click? The destination, the conclusion, the end. And what then? Would they get along?

Would Tess and Joel leave?

They wouldn’t stay.

Would Ellie stay?

Ellie’s lost in thought when the attack happens. Tess is immediately on her, making her crouch down under a table as Maria guards the door.

It happens and then it’s over.

They stay one night in Jackson and then they continue.

Ellie tries to call things off. It seems like a safe place to stay, Tommy and Maria said they could come back if the university labs in Eastern Colorado didn’t pan out.

“We’ve come this far, Ellie,” Joel says resolutely.

“You should be with your family, Ellie,” Tess affirms. “It’s rare to have that in this world.”

Ellie clenches her jaw. She’s never known family, never felt it… so how would she know?

“We should at least go to this university.”

And so they do.

It’s another bust.

In a long string of bad luck, nothing changes.

The buildings are deserted, there’s some fucked up infected monkeys, a dead scientist and another location to trek to.

And then there’s FEDRA soldiers.

She’s never been more thankful for Tess in her life.

“There’s three in the building across from us, they’ll head this way soon,” Tess says curtly. “Let’s head two rooms back, wait for them in the hallway. Gunfire will bring more so we’ll hold our positions. Agreed?” Her voice is gruff, almost an imitation of Joel’s and despite the adrenaline rushing through Ellie’s veins, Ellie smiles.

Times moves slowly, the gun is Ellie’s hand is solid and she’s got five bullets which is more than normal so she feels confident.

The soldiers slowly drop.

They wait five minutes at each floor, slowly advancing forward.

Joel bounces his knee as they hide, and Tess divides her time between scanning the entryways and windows and glaring at Joel to ensure he plays by her rules.

They escape relatively unscathed. Joel is bleeding from the temple, his face a mess of red that Tess reassures Ellie is fine. Tess has a bullet graze on her upper arm, a worn grey bandage tied haphazardly over it to stop the blood flow but Ellie thinks it might just make the wound infected. Ellie’s tired, shallow cuts and grazes line her right side from falling onto shattered glass, her head is pounding and she’s over it.

She cries that night. Feeling alone and scared and stupid.

Family is dumb and overrated.

It’s clearly not for her.

Her mother had decided long again.

If her mother didn’t want her then she didn’t want her mother.

She curls into a ball in her sleeping bag, safe elsewhere but feeling unsafe. She presses her fists to her eyes as though it’ll stop her tears and she just shakes, her body wracked with sobs.

A warm hand falls on her back. It’s large and solid and just resting there.

She knows its Joel but can’t bear to look at him.

Tess strokes her hair where it meets the nape of her neck, and Ellie wants to sink into the ground just as much as she doesn’t want them to stop.

She doesn’t speak and neither do they.

--

From where they are in eastern Colorado, Jackson is northwest, and Salt Lake City is west. Its only a few days travel from Salt Lake City to Jackson on horseback. Tess takes the time the following morning to show Ellie on a map.

“If we’re heading back that way anyway, then it’s worth it to check,” Tess tells Ellie, tracing the route they’d take and informing her of their decision more than anything else.

“It’s not worth anything,” Ellie replies, scuffing her shoes on the ground.

“It’s your mum,” Joel says simply.

“Has someone told her that?” Ellie mutters.

Joel and Tess both grimace, sharing a look. Ellie knows family is complicated, she’s been told this and now she’s experiencing it.

“Ellie, she’s your-”

The rage bubbles up inside her before she can stop it. “Everyone I’ve ever loved has either died or left me,” Ellie says with a raised voice, her hands shaking jerkily in front of her. She’s tense and full of energy and she wants to punch something. She can feel tears coming and her throat is dry and it’s too much.

“Ellie-”

“So why should I run after someone who’s already left me?” Ellie yells. “Why should it be this hard? Why do we have to risk this much? Why do you have to risk anything at all?”

They say nothing. Ellie can see pity in their eyes, and before she can stop herself, she punches a tree.

It doesn’t make her feel better.

Joel bandages her hand, three of her knuckles split. He’s gentler than she’s ever seen him and it makes her feel small for some reason.

“Kiddo, we don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” Joel says in a low tone. “You can- You can choose, it should be your choice.”

“It can’t be for nothing,” Ellie says bitterly, emotions swirling inside of her.

“If it doesn’t work,” Tess says, patting Ellie’s knee. “Then you don’t have to stay.”

“Where else can I go?” Ellie asks, squeezing her eyes shut, cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“There’s always Jackson,” Tess offers.

“But- I-”

“With us,” Joel says awkwardly. “If- if you wanted.”

Ellie’s throat is tight.

“I could teach you how to play guitar,” he offers. “I reckon you’d like that.”

“Maybe,” Ellie says softly.

And they continue on.

The journey from Colorado to Salt Lake City isn’t an easy one. Nothing was ever easy.

The weather gets colder which makes it harder to navigate, harder to find food, and harder to sleep.

She feels more as they get closer. More scared, more nervous, more anxious.

Just more.

She struggles to make sense of it, not sure what she’s looking for or what they’ll find. What she’s already found.

They’re on form. Heading through a bus depot, exiting the last highway and clearing through an underground tunnel.

They’re almost there and then there’s rushing water and straining lungs and darkness.

--

Ellie wakes in a hospital with a stranger beside her bed.

The woman’s eyes are green, her expression is soft, and she tuts over Ellie sitting up too early.

“Easy, easy,” the strangers says, hands reaching out to help Ellie sits up.

Ellie’s body freezes, jerking away from her. “Where are Joel and Tess?”

“I asked them to give us some time alone,” the woman says. “I’m your- I’m Anna.”

Ellie takes her in with wide eyes, waking into an anticipated moment was hard to process. “Can- where’s- I don’t-”

Anna hushes her and draws Ellie into a tight hug that she doesn’t relax into.

Meeting Anna doesn’t make things easier for Ellie.

There’s a sense of warmth there, honey in Anna’s voice, a soft touch and an excited expression.

Anna rushes through excuses, building a narrative of a complicated birth, a missing father and a sense of duty to the Firefly cause. She didn’t want Ellie to come out here, she was safer in a QZ until her mother had figured out the cure she’d devoted her life to. Her words are sure and well-spoken, she pauses in places like she anticipates Ellie reassuring her, and then she continues painting her picture of abandoning Ellie for noble reasons.

Ellie nods along.

It ticks so many boxes, but something is off and Ellie cannot place it. There’s a hardness behind Anna’s eyes, something she’s sometimes seen in her own, and it feels off.

“Do you have any questions, my love?” Anna asks, tone saccharine.

“Where’s- where’s Joel and Tess?” Ellie asks awkwardly.

Anna’s smile turns a little bitter at her words but she takes Ellie to them nonetheless.

“We’ve got it from here,” Marlene says, her voice is muffled but Ellie picks up the words as they approach. “You can take the guns as agreed.”

“We’re not leaving without checking on her,” Tess’s voice says firmly.

Anna’s steps turn heavy, as though to announce her approach.

Marlene changes the conversation quickly as they enter.

“Ellie!”

Ellie throws herself at Tess, initiating a hug for the first time in their long journey. She clings to her, relaxing in the safety of her arms.

“It’s good to see you up, kiddo,” Joel says, a protective hand on Ellie’s shoulder.

She hugs him as well, relieved to be reunited and to see Joel in one piece after the tunnels.

“You’re welcome to stay for a couple of days,” Marlene says curtly.

It’s clear she doesn’t mean it.

Joel and Tess stay anyway.

--

Anna is involved in testing to find a ‘cure’ for the infection. She works with some doctor. Talks about how she used to be a nurse and had diversified her skills over the last 14 years in immunology, pathology and mycology.

Anna seems to want to share everything, tell Ellie everything and nothing, unable to sit in the silence that Ellie offers.

Ellie doesn’t particularly care, too focused on the way that the Fireflies hover over Joel and Tess like they aren’t allowed to go to certain parts of their hospital or their base. The way that whispers cease when she turns a corner, the blood splatter on doctor’s coats, and the weird feeling that Infected are nearby.

It feels off.

There’s something out of place.

It doesn’t take long to click.

Or at least, it doesn’t take Ellie long to venture where she’s not allowed to go. She uses every trick Joel and Tess taught her about being stealthy, sneaking passed Fireflies to reach the upper floors of the hospital in the middle of the night.

There’s Infected in cages. Dozens of them.

She supposes it makes sense if you’re studying immunology to find a vaccine.

Cages are marked with numbers and dates.

#259, vaccine 23, injected: 20/04/34, infected: 21/04/34, turned: 22/04/34

#260, vaccine 23, injected: 20/04/34, infected: 21/04/34, turned: 23/04/34

Her eyes linger on the dates, only days prior, comparing those around her.

Someone passes the room she’s in, footsteps audible between the groaning of the Infected and Ellie is terrified.

She hides under a desk, flashlight off, in the total darkness of a room filled with nightmares.

Once she’s certain they are gone, she gets up, hands shaky as she searches through paperwork.

It confirms what she thinks.

She drops the notebook in shock, the sound alerting several of the runners. Within seconds they are snarling, baring their teeth, and pounding on the doors of their cages.

They’re locked away and yet she’s never been more terrified, stuck in place and trembling.

She hears guards shouting, footsteps rushing closer.

The room is flooded with light when they arrive, and Ellie finally moves. She rushes forward, ducking passed them in the doorway.

She runs and she doesn’t stop.

They don’t shoot and they don’t chase her.

--

She finds comfort when she finds Joel and Tess. Too overwhelmed and too worked up to be able to explain what she saw and what she now knows.

Her mother is experimenting on humans to find a cure.

Injecting them with a trial vaccine, infecting them with the virus, studying them as they turn, and then dissecting them.  

Hundreds.

#260.

The knock at the door that goes ignored so Marlene and Anna enter anyway.

Joel stands in front of them, partially shielding Ellie and Tess from view.

“What can I help you with?” Joel asks, crossing his arms. His tone is serious and its impossible to tell that Ellie has shared nothing with him.

“I just wanted to explain what Ellie saw,” Anna says, holding her hands up. “Sometimes sacrifice is needed for the greater good, I’m sure you understand that.”

Tess stiffens against Ellie, holding her tighter. “Are you okay?” She whispers in Ellie’s ear.

Ellie nods but she’s uncertain, she pulls away to watch, eyes studying Anna.

“In order to create a vaccine,” Anna continues. “There’s a need for trials. There are- we’ve had-” She falters, clenching her hands into fists by her sides. “Immunology is complex and working tirelessly in order to create a vaccine for animals which do not ordinarily get Infected does not necessarily help to create a vaccine for animals that do.”

Ellie narrows her eyes. “So you test on humans instead?” She offers plainly. “You make up a vaccine, you give it to someone and you infect them and you just take notes as they suffer.”

Anna’s nostrils flare.  

“We’re learning a lot,” Marlene says. “We don’t like it either but it needs to be done.”

“Two hundred and sixty times?” Ellie asks.

Tess swears.

“Where are you finding two hundred and sixty people to experiment on?” Joel says threateningly.

“We have to think about the future,” Anna says coldly.

“You’re monsters,” Ellie snarls.

Anna’s jaw tightens, she shakes her head as though she’s deciding the argument isn’t worth it and she walks away.

“They’re not good people, Joel,” Marlene says, rubbing her eyes. “Most of them are hunters and- and think of how many people we could save if we get this right.”

“We’re leaving in the morning,” Joel tells her. “Please go.”

And Marlene does.

Ellie sits stiffly on the bed, fidgeting with her hands as Joel and Tess talk circles around her.

“Human testing?”

“Hundreds of people.”

“What if they never find a vaccine? How many more will they go through?”

“I always knew the Fireflies were misguided but fuck.”

She zones out, disassociating more than anything else as she thinks about Riley and Sam, about hundreds of Rileys and Sams, about being cold and feverish and knowing what’s coming and not knowing how it would come.

She must fall asleep at some point because she wakes up to Tess stroking her hair and smiling sadly.

Joel and Tess have packed and they’re ready to leave.

It takes Ellie several sluggish moments, heartbroken and half asleep, to register than they mean to take her too.

“Really?” Ellie asks.

“Of course,” Tess says, like its nothing.

“We’re family,” Joel says, like its everything.

--

Ellie leaves with them.

Anna doesn’t really say goodbye and neither does Ellie.

It had felt like Anna was trying to build something between them, but she was really pretending something was already there. But there was nothing. No spark, no connection, no meaning. The journey had been worthless.

Ellie shouldn’t have run after someone who already left her.

Family was both complicated and simple.

Out of reach and sneaking up on her.

Her mother was nothing and no one, and the smugglers were now something and someone.

--

“It’s kinda pretty, ain’t it?” Joel says, gesturing to the snow-capped mountains surrounding them.

“Yeah, it’s gorgeous in Spring, Texas,” Tess grins, helping Ellie over a fence. “This whole area is covered in wildflowers.”

They’re on the outskirts of Jackson, almost back to where they were months previously. Months of danger and sleeplessness and darkness.

Risks and close calls.

For nothing.

“Sarah and I used to take hikes like this all the time,” Joel says easily. “I reckon the two of you would’ve been friends.”

Ellie nods along, thoughts elsewhere.

“Just a little bit further now,” Tess says eagerly, giving Ellie a boost onto a higher bit of ground.

Joel lends a hand to stabilise her and then pulls up Tess.

“Hey, wait,” Ellie says, looking out toward Jackson and then down at her hands. She sighs as she tries to find her words. “I’ve been meaning to tell you but, back in Boston… before I left, I was- I was somewhere I shouldn’t be with my friend. My best friend. She got bit and we didn’t know what to do so we tried to wait it out and she made me leave before she turned.”

“I’m sorry, Ellie,” Tess says quietly. “I know how hard that can be.”

“Do you think they-” Ellie rubs the back of her neck. “Do you think they’re still inside? Like they’re stuck?”

“No. No, Ellie I don’t,” Tess says. “I think they’ve moved on. They’re at peace.”

Joel is silent and awkward, but his eyes are kind.

“I’m sorry we went all that way for nothing, I-” Ellie falters, biting her lip. “You both risked so much and I don’t think I could have handled someone else dying or- or turning because of me.”

“Your friend’s death wasn’t your fault,” Tess says.

“I feel like it should have been me and not her,” Ellie admits.

“Ellie, I’ve struggled a long time with surviving,” Joel says. “But no matter what, you keep finding something to fight for.”

Ellie fidgets with her fingers, scratching at her arm. “I just-” She huffs. “I just feel like we fought through all of that for nothing. We came all this way and for what?”

“For you,” Joel says plainly.

Ellie tears up, nodding and sniffing and doing her best to keep it together.

Family is a complicated word until it isn’t, she’s never known it until she does, and she feels it constantly in Jackson.

In their meals together, in learning how to play guitar, in movie nights, in sharing books, learning how to swim, and to grow and move forward.

She tells them she loves them on her sixteenth birthday in an abandoned museum.

She tells Tess and Joel she likes girls the day that she decks someone for taunting her about Cat.

She goes hiking with Joel when she and Cat inevitably break up, finding peace in the open air.

She cries on Tess’s shoulder when Dina and Jesse get back together for the third time. A mess of complicated feelings loud in her chest.

Joel helps her practice playing her song for the end of harvest bonfire and Tess helps her pick out a shirt to wear to the town’s winter dance.

“I’m just a girl, not a threat,” Ellie says softly.

“Oh, Ellie, I think they should be terrified of you,” Dina murmurs. Her eyes are bright, she feels warm and perfect in Ellie’s arms, and she steals Ellie’s breath long before she kisses her.

She distantly hears someone calling out, too lost in the tenderness of the moment to register it properly.  

“God, I-” Ellie laughs at herself and her breathlessness, eyes lingering on Dina’s affectionate smile before she kisses Dina again.

Once. Twice. Soundly and enthusiastically.

When she pulls back the second time, she notices Joel and Tess having words with Seth. They look angry and Maria seems to have put herself in the middle, mediating and ushering Seth outside.

Dina’s hand on her cheek makes her refocus.

“I’ve wanted to do that for a while,” Dina whispers playfully.

Ellie’s cheeks flush pink, smiling in disbelief, her fingers flexing on Dina’s lower back. “Me too,” Ellie admits shyly.

Dina leans her forehead against Ellie’s again, swaying them together slowly under the twinkling lights.

#i'm kinda both proud and self-conscious about this one #it was both a challenging and fascinating idea #my next fic is a continuation in the same world #don't think about that too hard #tlou2 fanfic #elliedina week #my writing

[the-littlefangirl]

Wait wait wait i just read your addition to the Bucky metal arm/not metal arm usage post. What's your headcanon on using not his metal arm to choke Maria Stark? Also that he conveniently did it probably at the only security cam on that entire road? Pleeease i'm curious 😶

OH BOY. First of all, I have to say that this headcanon is heavily inspired by The terror of knowing which I will recommend every time I can because it’s Amazing.

I think the mission was partly about Hydra getting Stark’s (The government’s? The one made from the experimentation on Isaiah? we can’t know for sure) serum to produce more super-soldiers, which is interesting in its own right because, as we saw at the beginning of the movie, they were still relying on using torture and mental conditioning every time they got Bucky out of cryo for him to comply. Maybe Hydra thought using people who were already eager to have the serum and were already trained Hydra agents was going to be better, and oh damn did that hubris of them backfired to the point where Karpov had to rely on Bucky to get out of Siberia in one piece. 

But knowing that someone in the soviet army and/or Hydra had made a file not only about Bucky’s brainwashing but also his backstory (going as far as to get a picture from the 40s), they knew about his loyalty to Captain America and that he had worked with Howard Stark during the war (although fanon has certainly filled some of the blanks because in The First Avenger they’re never shown in the same scene together and Howard may have recognized Bucky from photographs and not because of direct interactions with each other, but that is a bit less interesting so I choose to ignore it). So maybe they wanted to test the limits of his brainwashing and see if having a target connected to his past was going to shake the conditioning in any way. I think they were confident that it wouldn’t, since the assassination needed to be done in a very specific time frame and manner, and I don’t think they would’ve risked it otherwise. However, Hydra being Hydra and having a gigantic hubris, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to think that they staged the assassination at the specific point where a camera set by them would be recording so that they could use it as an experiment to see how the Winter Soldier would react. Hell, the secret nazis that no one knew were around chose to keep the evidence and store it very neatly in one of their facilities (and it’s very funny to think that the writing being lazy and using the random 90s tape with audio to have the conflict between Steve and Tony explode can be explained with Hydra being slightly incompetent and very much arrogant about their work).

So then you have Bucky using his metal fist to kill Howard (and I’ve seen people pointing out that he hesitates after he says Bucky’s name, but I think that’s because he’s trying to figure out why he would say a random name before he gets murdered and not because he recognized it, but that’s also a very interesting take re: the mission being used to see what would happen) and then he goes to kill Maria, which is the only time in all the movies he chokes someone using not his left hand but his right. We know that the metal hand can feel pressure (the plums) and that the arm is most likely connected to his neurological system (oh he’s 100% in excruciating pain after he loses the arm in Siberia) but his right hand would for sure feel more sensation, so the headcanon that I have is that maybe Hydra specifically requested that he would use his right hand to kill her, not only to further the experiment and see if he reacts in any way (and we know he doesn’t at all, his face is completely unmoved while he’s killing her) but also because it would track with Hydra’s twisted logic. You Shaped the Century because we built you, not only we gave you, our inhuman killing machine, a lethal weapon but we have absolute control of every part of you that can be used for violence. In summary, pain. 

Connecting that specific mission with Project Insight too is interesting because of the parallels (that I’m suuuure no one thought about but I WILL, screw authorial intent). In retrospect, using Bucky to specifically go after Steve Captain America Friends since Childhood Rogers IS SO DUMB when you basically have all of Shield’s manpower at your disposition (and the resources to nuke an entire facility with Steve and Natasha on the inside), but that could be explained not only by Pierce’s arrogance but also the past records that show that he’s not likely to react and connect the mission with his memories if conditioned properly beforehand. Well, that also backfired spectacularly on the first round, since even though he eventually raises his gun he hesitates two times long enough to give Sam and Natasha the opportunity to save Steve’s life, twice. 

But going back to the Hydra being arrogant and having an absurd amount of hubris, even after the programming starts falling apart the moment Steve says his name, they choose to send him yet again during the Insight launch, in broad daylight, without putting him in any kind of mask, to try and stop Steve from deactivating the helicarriers (did Pierce even count on Bucky surviving the mission? Maybe since they thought they would be able to use Zola’s algorithm they even started seeing Bucky as obsolete, like the Soviets did in the 90s, and were potentially sending him on one last mission before deactivating him just in case Steve was quick enough to plan something. Maybe Pierce even thought that it would just be a fitting twist of the knife to send Bucky Barnes to stop Steve Rogers, by all means possible, since he was so adamant about ruining the entire operation with his moral code and stubbornness alone). 

Final conclusion: fuck Hydra.

#bucky barnes #meta #captain america #i mean the real reason is probably just lazy writing #and that he's using his right hand because of the blocking of the actors #but that's not as angsty to think about so here you go. #enjoy the 2am rambling! #i hope my english was understandable btw

[sammys-carhartt-jacket]

Preword: OK???? So i think I did a thing. This started off as me doing a little rant post but somehow now it’s a fanfictio? oops. anyways this is going to be a multichapter fic (I’ve never been able to follow through on this before, so we’ll see how this goes.

also should I make an ao3 account and post there?

——————— So anyways, just thinking once again about how much Sam must have stuck out at like literally any school he went to.

I mean, maybe not so blatantly, but the few that he gets assigned to sit next to in class or some kids that feel like making a friend in him, they get to know him beyond the reserved, smart, friendly but guarded kid they see at school.

In high school, the differences become more prominent.

Sam is invited to an end of school rager his freshman year. He’s new to this type of shit, but when it comes time for the drinking games, he decides to join in.

Sam downs 9 shots straight in a row standing one foot on the barstool the host brought out.

The previous record was 5.

When he’s hopped off and done, impaired only by a slight stumble, the classmates sober enough to process it are looking on in disbelief, a bit of awe mixed in- but as always, he can see if in their eyes.

god, this kid is some kind of freak.

of course, they don’t realize that he’s been drinking on a regular basis since he was eleven.

———————

Four months later in a different town, this time the trio tracking down a potential witch coven, Sam goes to get a drink during lunch period, a group of other sophomores loitering by the water fountains and in a world of their own. Sam had approached their spot to refill his water bottle, and glanced down into the lap of one of the guys’ lap (Cameron, he later found out). He was reading a book on montana history, and happened to be flipped to a page on the beartooth highway. Sam had been there once when he was about eight or so, when dad had taken him and dean scoping out the area for remains of a woman who had slipped off of the edge after a truck had edged her off, and remained to kill similar drivers.

“Hey,” Sam spoke to the guy, and he looked up expectantly at him.

“Uh,” Sam crouched down next to him, hoping this wouldn’t be awkward. “Y’know, what they don’t tell you is that there’s a small grouping of forts in the forest around mile 36.”

Sam should know. He built them.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said, giving an awkward grin. And it was cool. Sam had had a lot of downtime on that hunt, and hey, a kid had to occupy himself somehow.

He’d built them out of spare sticks he found, bark, some old rusted sheets of metal from the past crashes (even though John had told him not to go fucking around back there, lest Sophie-the-spirit decided to make a reappearance), and whatever spare tarp he could grab from bubmbling passerby campers.

They were wobbly and barren, teetering on its weak stick side supports, but for a week, it was Sam’s escape, where he could pretend that he was a normal kid in a normal neighborhood, in a clubhouse that his dad had made for him and his brother to spend time on while their dad was away at his normal, 9 to 5 job. Not a shitty stack of crap he used to escape his dad who was constantly in a foul mood, in the middle of god-knows-fucking-where, Montana.

Meanwhile the guy just looked up, a blink of intrigue in his eyes.

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Sam gave another half-smile.

He stood up from the ground, his other girl friend with the dark brown bob and sideswept bangs giving a small wave from the grimy tiled floor.

“I’m Joline,” she greeted, extending a hand.

Sam shook it.

She nudged the girl next to her, who wore athletic shorts, a hoodie, and her thick black hair in a messy bun.

“This is Maria,” bun girl gave a small nod, which said hey, I don’t know you just yet, but I think we’ve got something to work with here.

“I’m Cameron,” floor guy supplied before Joline could beat him to it.

“You new around here? I don’t recall seeing you before.” Cameron asked, brows furrowed and eyes squinted a bit as if that would unlock any memory of meeting Sam before in his brain.

“Yeah,” Sam shrugged. “My dad moves us around a lot. We just got here Saturday.”

“Oh, I guess you’ve seen a lot of different places then.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Sam said, voice guarded.

Joline ignored the first half of what he said.

“Saturday? Oh jeez, I bet you barley know anything about Burkesville-,”

She was wrong. Researching witches meant a lot of traveling around and interviewing, and gossip, grits, and dirty laundry was often included in that deal.

“-we totally have to take you out and show you around then. Tuesday night work?”

Maria nudged Joline. “I’ve got volleyball practice tomorrow, remember?”

“Oh,” Joline scrunched up her nose. “Damn volleyball. Wednesday then?”

Sam went for the awkward nod and afterthought smile combo. “Sure. Uh, see you guys, I’ve got to get to class.”

Cameron gave a short nod. “See you dude.”

With that, Sam walked to Chemistry.

Two periods later he has Spanish with Maria and she slips him a note telling him to meet at the 7/11 on Marsh street at 6:00.

He pockets the note for later.

————————

Joline scratches her wrist impatiently, shiny green watch band doing nothing helpful except to itch the hell out of her. She needs a new one.

She’s standing underneath the neon 7/11 sign, Cameron beside her, watching the cars go by.

It’s about seven more minutes before Maria finally makes it to the parking lot to sit and wait for the last member of their small little party.

Maria is standing, arms crossed, looking particularly concerned. It was then 6:12, and Sam was still a no-show.

“Listen.” Maria bites her lip and faces towards the two. “My mama is cooking tamales tonight, so if he doesn’t show soon, I think I’ll just go home and eat there. I’m getting tired of waiting and hungry.”

Joline frowns, but nods her head in understanding nonetheless. Prospects aren’t looking great right now. Not even a minute later though, there’s the obnoxious growl of a gas-guzzler car, and Cameron perks his head up to try and catch a glimpse down the road. He lets out an appreciative whistle as he makes out that it’s a Chevy impala, then a soft ‘holy shit’ as the car turns into their parking lot.

“Dude!” He exclaims at Sam as he pops the passenger side door and stands up. “You have a fucking 1967 Chevy Impala and you didn’t tell me?”

Fucking car nerd.

Inside the sleek black vintage, a man, the driver, holds his hand out for a fist bump that

“Not Sammy,” he says, letting out a playboy smirk. “Yours truly, Dean Winchester.”

He’s cocky enough to even wink.

Sam just rolls his eyes in exasperation as he walks around the car and towards Maria and Joline. He mumbles a hey, and apologizes for his tardiness.

“He’s 20 now, but me, my dad, and him are still living out of each other’s pockets. It’s impossible for him to be on time”

Joline smiled politely, but something about what Sam had said made her take a moment and process. The lack of a mother, the nomad lifestyle- it was just a life so far from what she led, she had a hard time wrapping her head about what that would be like.

———————

thanks for sticking around I geuss! This is actually the second spn fanfic I’ve wrote (I guess I can post the other here as well!)

chapter two sometime next week maybe

#My fics #supernatural #spn #early seasons sam #sam Winchester #dean winchester #pre series #pre series spn #Outsider pov #fanfiction #spn fic #supernatural fic #sam winchester is a bamf #Sam Winchester is weird

[starstruckmyths]

Wanda Has Awesome Powers

I’ve been wanting to make this post for a while now, and I guess it’s finally time!

I want to talk about MCU Wanda Maximoff and her Mind-Control powers, and how in lots of media I’ve seen (meta, fanfics, fanart, posts), it’s portrayed like something flawed that she should never have had, that it makes her evil, and that it can only be used as something bad. I want to show people a different side to the story. 

Now, the official MCU wiki tells us that, splitting her mind-control powers from the telekinesis, she has two kinds of mind powers: Telepathy, and Mental Manipulation. 

The Telepathy allows her to read minds, communicate telepathically, and experience the memories and thoughts of others. She can also sense the minds and emotions of those around her, even when she can’t see them, as we saw with her brother dying. 

The Mental/Emotional Manipulation is often a type of illusory hypnosis. She can force people to recall the darker events of their pasts and placing them inside daydream-like visions that can render them nearly helpless. She can also manipulate the memory, thoughts, actions, emotions, and senses of others at will, as well as to induce sleep or pain and create illusions. She can use them to elicit fear or emotional pain in an individual, as we’ve seen in Age of Ultron, like their fears, regrets, or general disturbances, though the nature of it is not up to her. 

It’s sad that it’s only been painted in such a bad light, while it could have been something amazing. When people hear “Emotional Manipulation” they often think of something bad. Of pain. But this does not have to be the case. Fear and anger are not the only two emotions she can control and stimulate. 

Imagine Wanda using her powers to help people with PTSD, in a way that doctors just can’t. Imagine what she could do for someone when they’re trapped in a nightmare, in a panic or anxiety attack. With her powers, she could gently coax the person out of that state, soothing their mind with calming thoughts and images. 

We all know and can imagine that panic and anxiety attacks suck immensely. Remember when Tony in Iron Man 3 got those horrible PTSD attacks when reminded of the wormhole? Remember how he had to flee out of the situation, gasping for breath, stumbling, almost falling, thinking he had been poisoned and was going to die? 

Imagine going through such a thing, like Steve being reminded of the plane, Tony of the wormhole, Natasha of her past in the Red Room, Bruce as things the Hulk did, Thor of his brother dying, Sam of watching Riley fall to his death. All those horrible memories they can get stuck in, but Wanda is the only one who can genuinely pull them out of there, and help them heal. She can actually reach into their head and help them sort it out. When they’re having a nightmare, she could use her powers to soothe them into something more enjoyable, manipulating the brain to come up with more pleasant dreams. 

She would not even have to do any kind of super creepy digging into people’s heads. She could attach her own visions and dreams to what she radiates, and then use that to stimulate the brain to release things such as dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, the possibilities are endless. 

And there’s something else: 

The term “Neuro-Electric Interfacing” is used by Maria Hill when describing Wanda’s powers. Neuro-Electric means relating to the electrical phenomena (think of pulses and signals of your body) generated by the nervous system, and Interfacing means ‘connecting/interacting with’. So, Neuro-electric interfacing is connecting with a person's brain synapses to control the signals from the nervous system. 

Her ability to essentially ‘hack’ into that, means that she has control over the impulses sent by the nervous system to a certain point. This means that she has control over most that people do. The nervous system allows you to do things like walk, speak, swallow, breathe and learn, and it controls how your body reacts in an emergency. It controls all your senses (smell, see, touch, etc), and essentially your thoughts and feelings. 

Though this may seem bad, think about what else she could do with this. What good she could do with this. She could potentially ‘cure’ paralysis (like with Rhodey) by taking control of the impulses from the nervous system, and ‘trick’ them into started to work again. 

Paralysis occurs when communication between the brain and spinal cord fails. If Wanda takes control of this, she could reinstate that connection, and cure paralysis. 

In theory, if there had been more time in the media she had (they had to cram a lot into the movies, so I very much understand there wasn’t really time showing Wanda go around doing magical cures, which they would then have to explain to an audience that has lots of kids in it), Wanda could have cured Rhodey with her powers, and possibly many others too. 

I don’t think people understand how powerful she actually is with her powers including Neuro-Electric Interfacing, she could access everything in the human body, even the beating of someone’s heart, which is also controlled by your nervous system sending out impulses. Almost everything in your body is controlled by your nervous system, so just imagine what things you could do with that. 

Wanda could do so much with her powers, and I fully intent on exploring that further, because it’s just fascinating to think about. When being in a bad place, she could ease your mind into something calm and happy. She could replace the bad memories. She could make things better that people thought never would get better. 

She could do such amazing things with her powers, things that would not only help others, but herself as well, seeing that her powers weren’t something that would only cause pain in other people. It's like Bucky learning that his metal hand, the one he killed people with, could be used to save others. It's like Natasha learning that her past doesn't determine her future, and that she could use her deadly skills to do good in the world.

It's a superhero with destructive powers learning to use them for good, accepting that part of themselves, and maybe even growing to love it.

#wanda maximoff #wanda #scarlet witch #marvel #age of ultron #marvel movies #powers #super powers #wanda powers #scarlet witch powers #mind control #maximoff #telepathy #mcu #mcu wanda maximoff #mcu scarlet witch

[give-me-back-my-rhodey]

Somebody Told Me

Written for @surathaniel for the @mcu-christmas-exchange

Title: Somebody Told Me

Rating: M

Creator: Ducky

Warnings: Alcoholism

Pair: Winteriron

Summary: Tony is in love with Bucky, but he thinks Bucky is way out of his league. Instead of asking him out, Tony opts to angst about it on the sidelines. Imagine if Bucky liked him back…

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28356375

+++++++++

“I hate New Year’s Eve parties,” Tony grouses. “Like, what’s the point? This year sucked, and the next year is going to suck, too. It’s just how life works. I know T’Challa is your boyfriend and all, but do I really have to go?”

 He’s sitting in a restaurant, eating lunch with his best friend. Rhodey has just told him about the party his boyfriend is throwing. T’Challa always throws excellent parties, but Tony is just feeling ornery today.

Rhodey rolls his eyes. “First of all, I know you’re only salty because you don’t think Bucky will kiss you at midnight. Second of all, yes, you have to come.”

 “I hate you.” Tony doesn’t really hate Rhodey. Not even a little. What he does hate is just how right Rhodey is, as usual, when it comes to Tony. Not that Tony would ever admit that to him. It’s just not good for a man to get an ego.

 Rhodey just smirks, so Tony throws his hands in the air. “Fine, I will show up at your party. And I will be serving looks. But don’t be surprised if I sit in the corner all night, getting drunk, and making you walk me home.”

 “So, like every party we’ve attended?”

 “I really hate you now.” Not really though.

 +++++++

Tony does go to the party. And he is serving looks.  Pepper had helped him pick out the right clothing, and then he had begged her to come with him.  “Sharon is going to be there.” He’d said.

 Now, Tony is sitting at a table with T’Challa, Rhodey, and Pepper. They’re having a conversation, but Tony’s eyes keep wandering over to where Bucky is standing.

 Ah, Bucky. How can he describe Bucky? Tony first met him in college at a frat party. He had gotten super drunk, and Bucky had taken pity on him and walked him home.  Disappointed at that time because he was hoping to get laid, Tony also admired that Bucky only helped him take his pants off and tucked him into bed before leaving .  Seeing him around the campus, he had invited Bucky to small friend gatherings. Bucky then introduced Tony to his friends. Now, after everyone has graduated, they all like to get together at least once a month.

 Tony always had a crush on Bucky, but he knew that the other man was just looking out for him. No one would ever like him once they had to take care of him when he was sloppy drunk. That’s why he and Rhodey never worked out.  To be honest, he wasn’t sure if Bucky was even into guys. Tony had never seen Bucky with anybody outside of his friend group, and all of his friends were taken.

 Now, Bucky is here with a beautiful redhead on his arm. Tony’s gay brain can see that she has all the curves in all the right places for the average straight man. Bucky’s eyes meet his briefly before he nods and looks away. Tony lays his head on the table. “Yeah, I’m drinking the night away again.” He moans.

 The others look up, and seeing the woman with Bucky, they pat him on the back. “You don’t know. Maybe she’s his cousin or something.” Pepper tries to reason.

 “Don’t give me false hope.” Tony throws back a shot. “You guys should go party. I’m going to sit in the corner and blend in.”

 “Tones. You know you don’t have to….” Rhodey starts, but Tony cuts him off. “I told you I didn’t want to come. And I only came for the hopes that Bucky would notice me. But he just thinks I’m the disaster of the friend group, and I’m not going to let him down tonight.” Tony grins wildly and walks over to the bar.

 Thor and Heimdall are manning the bar. Ugh. More couples.  “Tony, my friend, how are you this fine night?” Thor asks.

 “I am most decidedly not doing fine.” He announces. “Can you just give me a bottle of vodka? I want to drink away some pain.”

 “Unfortunately, we cannot. We are under strict guidelines from Rhodey to make sure you get your drinks by the glass. He doesn’t want you sitting in the corner with no movement.” Heimdall speaks up. “So, what would you like?”

 “Fill me a glass of vodka. I’ll drink it slowly.” Tony grumbles.

Heimdall pours his drink, and Tony heads over to the corner. Maybe he is being a child about this, but he doesn’t want to deal with the heartache. He knows that after tonight, he’ll be ok.  Tony has had an unrequited crush on Bucky for three years; what’s another year or so? It doesn’t hurt if he doesn’t dwell on it.  

 Tony sits in the corner and watches. He watches as Sam and Steve do body shots on each other. Sharon and Maria Hill kiss while dancing. Wow, he didn’t notice that they were together. Must be a new thing. Carol and Maria Rambeau have gotten people to join them in the Cha-Cha Slide.  Bucky and his girlfriend are walking over to Rhodey and them. Oh no, he must be introducing her.  She shakes their hands. Bucky says something to her, and she throws back her head and laughs.  Tony grips his glass tighter.

 Throwing back another swallow, Tony revels in the burn. Why does everyone here have someone to love but him? When he looks back up, Bucky is no longer standing with Rhodey, T’Challa, and Pepper, but his girlfriend is. She and Pepper are in an animated conversation. Hmm, Bucky must be in the bathroom. He muses.

 Tony focuses on the rug below him and sways to the loud music. His mind starts to drift off to designs and blueprints of the projects he is building. Vodka forgotten; Tony starts to trace his works into the long hair of the rug. He is only shaken out of his trance when Thor announces it is one minute until the new year.  “Thanks Thor.” Tony murmurs and looks back down at the rug.

 “Tony.” Is it? No, his mind is playing tricks on him. “Tony.” The voice persists, so Tony looks up. Bucky is standing there.  Tony stands up.

 “Oh, hi Bucky! Glad to see you could make it!” He grins.

 Bucky looks around at the party.  “Why are you in the corner? I’ve been looking all over for you.”

 “You were?” Tony wants to slap himself for just how excited he sounded about that. “Sorry, I’m just not in a party mood. Look.” He points to his vodka. “I barely drank a glass.”

 The crowd around them starts counting down. “Ten! Nine! Eight!”

 “I was wondering!” Bucky shouts overtop of them. “Can I” “Five! Four! Three!” “kiss you at midnight?”

“Two. One!” “Yes!” As the crowd reaches one, Bucky leans in and kisses Tony.  It felt like fireworks were going off.  Also, fireworks were going off outside.  Tony pulls away first, out of breath. Once his lungs are full of air again, he asks. “What about the redhead?”

 “Nat? She’s a co-worker of mine, and a giant lesbian. I brought her in hopes that Pepper would be here. I’ve been trying to get them together for some time.”

 “Oh.” Tony is silent for a minute. “And you like me?”

 Embarrassed, Bucky rubs the back of his head. “Yeah, I’ve liked you for a while, but I always thought you were way out of my league. Like, you’re wicked smart and insanely attractive, and I’m just… me. However, Rhodey and Pepper told me that if I asked you out tonight, I wouldn’t regret it. So, I’m sorry I didn’t ask you out earlier.”

 “I thought you were out of my league! You’re too good for me. But now that you’ve basically asked me out, I’m going to say yes before you have a chance to think it over and change your mind.” Tony laughs.

 The look of longing that Bucky sends his way stops him from making another self-deprecating joke. “I’ll never change my mind.” Bucky tells him.

 Later that night, as they go to leave, Rhodey asks Tony. “So, how was your New Year’s Eve party?”

 “Next year has potential!” Tony grins.

#winteriron #mcu-christmas-exchange #party #alcohol tw #misunderstandings

[redhoodssweetheart]

Stitches (Sequel to Kill This Love)

Genre: College AU

Pairing: Carol x Fem!Reader

Word Count:  1.5K

Requested: Anon

Warnings: Angst, swearing, alcohol mention, fluff (for the reader, not so much for Carol)

Description:  Carol has come to realize that maybe giving you up was a bad idea after all.  What can she do to get you back and will it be too late?

A/N: This is a sequel to my story Kill This Love.  It’s been a long time coming and I finally had some inspiration to write this.  I’m going to slowly come back, I know I keep saying that I will, but it’s been hard lately.  I’m also going to slowly do away with the taglists, starting with one shots.  I just don’t have the time like I used to and I can’t keep up with it like I’d like.  I’m sorry.

*** DO NOT REPOST MY WORK ***

I thought that I'd been hurt before

But no one's ever left me quite this sore

Your words cut deeper than a knife

Now I need someone to breathe me back to life

Got a feeling that I'm going under

But I know that I'll make it out alive

If I quit calling you my lover

Move on

Carol never thought that she would miss someone as much as she missed you.  From the moment she moved her stuff out of your apartment she knew that she had fucked up big time.  She shouldn’t have said or done the things that she had.  Your words echoed in her ears as she carried her stuff from your apartment to her car.

Maria was there to help her, a disappointed look on her face.  She had hoped that maybe Carol had found someone that was good for her.  That she would slow down with the partying and open up for once.  She knew that Carol was going through a rough spot and no matter how hard Maria tried she could never get what was going on out of Carol.  She had hoped that maybe you could get her friend to open up for once.

Obviously, that hope had been in vain.

“Maria, I fucked up,” Carol said as they drove off from your apartment.  You hadn’t been there when they had come, you didn’t want to see Carol again.  You weren’t sure if you ever wanted to see her again or not.

“You don’t have to tell me that,” Maria said.  “Look Carol, I’m not going to sugar coat things anymore for you.  You’ve been fucking up a lot lately and I’m a little tired of picking your drunk ass up from parties and seeing you treat women as objects.  I thought that maybe you had something good going on with Y/N, but clearly, I was wrong.”

Carol hung her head, she knew at some point Maria wasn’t going to support her destructive behavior.  “I know,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes.  “Do you think I can fix things with Y/N?”

Maria kept her eyes on the road, “I don’t know Carol, I can honestly say I have no idea.”

Just like a moth drawn to a flame

Oh, you lured me in, I couldn't sense the pain

Your bitter heart cold to the touch

Now I'm gonna reap what I sow

I'm left seeing red on my own

Got a feeling that I'm going under

But I know that I'll make it out alive

If I quit calling you my lover

Move on

You watch me bleed until I can't breathe

Shaking, falling onto my knees

And now that I'm without your kisses

I'll be needing stitches

Tripping over myself

Aching, begging you to come help

And now that I'm without your kisses

I'll be needing stitches

You sat in the cafeteria looking over an assignment for Professor Fury’s class, a highlighter cap caught between your teeth as your eyes skimmed the page.  It had been a little over a month since you had broke things off with Carol.  It had been hard at first, there were a lot of sleepless nights and makeup covering the dark circles under your eyes, but you had survived.

You had had your fair share of heartbreak in the past.  This was just another one for the books.  Sometimes you would see her on campus with Maria and she looked miserable.  A sick part of you was happy that she was just as miserable as you were.  It brought you some semblance of joy that she was hurting like she had hurt you.  It was petty you knew, but you couldn’t help it at the time.  She had caused you serious heartbreak and it was nice to know you weren’t the only one that was feeling terrible.

“Hey Y/N?”  You looked up at the sound of your name and saw Natasha standing in front of you, a smile on her face.  “I was wondering if you could help me with an assignment for Professor Fury’s class?  I’m having a little trouble remembering all the things he covered in class.”

You flashed her a bright smile and motioned for her to take a seat, “I’m actually going over the handout he gave out today.”

“Lucky me,” she said as she pulled out her own notes and packet.  “I don’t know why he has to make things so complicated.”

You shrugged, “I think he likes challenging us because he can see the potential we have.  He wants to challenge us to be the best we can be.”

“Poetic,” she said as she clicked her pen.  “So where are you currently?”  You spent the next few hours studying with Natasha.  She was so focused that she didn’t even realize how late it had gotten until her phone buzzed beside her.  “Oh shit, I forgot that I have to meet my friends for dinner tonight, it’s my friend Sam’s birthday.  Thank you so much for all your help, Y/N.”

“No problem,” you told her as the two of you began packing up your things.  “I’m just glad I was able to help you out some.”

She shouldered her bag and then asked, “Would you like to go out sometime?”

Your heartbeat picked up its pace and you nodded your head, “I’d really like that.”

“Great!  I’ll text you later and we can figure something out.”  She waved and headed for the doors that led to the main quad, leaving you standing there staring after her with the goofiest grin on your face.

Needle in the thread

Gotta get you out of my head, get you out of my head

You watch me bleed until I can't breathe

Shaking, falling onto my knees (falling on my knees)

And now that I'm without your kisses

I'll be needing stitches (and I'll be needing stitches)

Tripping over myself

Aching, begging you to come help (begging, "Baby, please.")

And now that I'm without your kisses

I'll be needing stitches

(And now that)

I'm without your kisses

I'll be needing stitches

(And now that)

I'm without your kisses

I'll be needing stitches

Carol hadn’t heard that you had started going out with Natasha.  She didn’t know that you had moved on.  Maria knew, but she wasn’t sure how she was going to spill the news to her friend.  Carol had been doing better, but Maria didn’t know if this news would send her spiraling again.  Carol was still holding out hope that you would take her back.

Maria also didn’t know that Carol was going to approach you today in the cafeteria when she saw you sitting by yourself.

“Hey Y/N,” Carol said softly, she wasn’t sure what your reaction would be to her so she was being careful as she approached you.

You looked up, your heart skipping a beat when you heard her voice, “Hey Carol.”

This was a good start, Carol thought to herself.  You hadn’t started cursing her name.  “How’ve you been?”

“I’ve been good,” you told her.  “And you?”

“Better, I stopped partying,” she admitted.  “I haven’t been to one in over a month.”  You just nodded your head, not sure what your response to that should be.  “I was wondering if… well I was hoping that maybe we could give us a try again.”

“Carol--”

“No, wait before you say no.  I know that I treated you poorly back then, but I realize now that what I did was wrong.  I want to be with you again and this time I won’t treat you as some sort of trophy or prize.  We can do the quiet nights at home, we can go out to eat, we don’t have to go to parties.  I just… fuck I miss you.  I miss you so much.”  She looked like she was about to cry.  “I should never have treated you like I did, and there’s really no excuse for why I did it, but I want to make it up to you.  Please, give me another chance.”

You felt like your heart was breaking all over again, and before you could say anything you felt a hand on your back, “Hey babe, you ready to go hang out with the boys?  Steve made us rent Star Wars because he’s never seen any of them.”  

You looked back at Carol who’s face was a mask of devastation, “Uh Carol, this is my girlfriend Natasha.  Nat this is… an old friend.”  Natasha knew by the tone of your voice that this was the ex you had told her about.

“Nice to meet you, Carol,” she had a forced smile on her face and Carol knew that if looks could kill she’d be dead right now.

“Uh yeah, nice to meet you too, Natasha.  Look Y/N, I should go.  It was nice seeing you again.  I guess I’ll see you around campus.”  Carol quickly gathered up her bags and headed for the door, fighting back the tears until she was out of the building and away from your watchful gaze.

She had been too late and Maria knew the moment that she saw Carol that her friend had found out about your new relationship and she held her friend as she cried.

#Carol Danvers x Reader #Carol Danvers x Fem!Reader #Carol Danvers x Reader angst #Carol Danvers #Carol Danvers angst #Carol Danvers AU #Carol Danvers fanfic #Carol Danvers fanfiction #Carol Danvers Imagine

[geeky-writes]

The Phoenix Project - Story Preview

Superfamily, Alternate Universe

Clearing his throat, Steve squeezed Sam’s shoulder as he raised his glass in the air, nodding at Sam, Carol, and Bucky to do the same.

“To Riley,” he said, clear and true.

“To Riley,” the rest said simultaneously before all four of them downed the contents of their glasses. Steve grimaced as the sharp liquor burned its way down his throat, fighting against the urge to cough. He wasn't that much of a drinker, especially of the hard stuff, as Bucky liked to call it, but out of respect for Sam he hadn't protested when Sam had ordered five rounds of what had been Riley’s favourite brand of whisky.

“So, have you been out to see the kid yet?” Carol asked once she set her glass down, waving the waitress over for another. “How old is he now?”

“Yeah, I just saw him yesterday when I brought Riley’s stuff out to Erin. I think he’s six months now? Something like that. Looks just like Riley too, poor kid.”

“Mmm. And how’s Erin doing?”

Sam gave a shrug, downing his second glass of whisky so fast the waitress barely had a chance to set it down.

“Eh, you know how it is. The kid keeps her pretty busy, probably helps keep her mind off of things, ya know? Keeps her from dwelling on it.”

“Yeah, that’s what Maria always says too,” said Carol. “She calls Monica her anchor all the time, says she would've been lost without her.”

“Yeah, I guess I can see that.” Sam let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. “I dunno, it all just kinda sucks though.”

“Yeah, it does,” agreed Bucky. “Kinda almost makes me wanna take a shot at them every once in a while. Let them see what it’s like for a change.”

“Yeah, but that’s the same kind of thinking that got us into this whole damn mess in the first place,” said Sam. “It’s not a matter of who shot first anymore, it’s all about who keeps shooting.”

“Yeah, well, tell that to Riley’s wife and kid,” Bucky snapped, slamming his glass down onto the table so hard that Carol jumped. “At some point you just gotta either say stop, or fight back. This whole constant patrolling thing is just a massive waste of resources.”

“Well, isn't that what this newfangled thing we're starting tomorrow is supposed to address?” asked Sam. “The next phase, or some shit like that?”

Carol scowled, shooting Steve a questioning look. “Yeah, I guess so. You okay there, Cap?”

“Oh, yeah,” replied Steve, plastering on a smile he had no doubt that Carol could see right through. “Just a bit tired, you know? I was at Ma’s house all last weekend trying to help her out. Her arthritis has gotten pretty bad lately, so I’ve been trying to fix up some stuff around her house to help make things easier on her.”

“Yeah, well, tell her I said hi next time you talk to her, okay?” said Carol as she glanced at the timepiece fastened around her wrist. “I’m already late to meet James.”

“Will do.”

“Yeah, I think I’m gonna get going too, Steve,” said Sam, nudging him in the arm. “I got some stuff to go over before we start that fancy new class tomorrow.”

“I’ll go with you,” said Bucky as he rapidly downed his third glass of whisky. “See ya tomorrow, Steve.”

“Sounds good,” said Steve. “See you guys then.”

As soon as he was alone Steve dropped his chin to his chest, gripping his head between his hands. He had been trying to hide it from his friends, but Riley’s sudden death seven days ago had thrown him for a pretty big loop, one that he hadn’t yet managed to shake. It had been just another routine mission, scouting the skies above Langara in the new X-301 aircrafts with Sam and Riley, something they had all done too many times to count, when, while testing out the banking arc, Riley had pulled back just a split-second too late, ending up just a hair over the hardline DMZ.

And the very moment the tip of his wing tripped that invisible barrier, the enemy’s automated anti-aircraft defence system kicked in and he was immediately taken out, the resulting fireball so blinding that Steve almost flew head-on into Sam before he was able to recover.

Steve shuddered as he recalled the searing heat of that fireball, and the shock that he’d felt at seeing someone he’d spent nearly every single day with for the last three years suddenly vanish, and being completely and utterly helpless to stop it.

It was like Sam had said; that they had been up there just to watch.

And now there was yet another Langaran test-pilot widow, and yet another Langaran child growing up without a father.

Just like he had.

It took him a few more seconds to realise that none of the others had bothered to leave any credits behind for their drinks, something that brought a slight smile to Steve’s face as he dug into his back pocket, peeling off the required number of bills and laying them on the table. He’d get them all back the next time.

In fact, if his memory was correct, and it always was, Bucky had managed to skip out on paying the last three times, something Steve would be sure to pass along to Sam once he saw him again.

Getting to his feet, Steve grabbed his worn brown leather jacket and slung it over his shoulder, checking his timepiece on his way out the door. It was only 1600, and since he’d already completed his aircraft double-check and filed his mission report for the day, that meant he had plenty of time to make one of his hospital visits before he returned to the barracks for dinner.

Outside the sun was shining, the autumn air crisp and cool as Steve mounted his motorcycle and took off in the direction of the base hospital, smiling as he felt the breeze whipping across his face and through his hair. He never bothered with a helmet, something he knew drove his ma mad with worry, but he had always rather enjoyed living a bit dangerously, and since he had been driving motorcycles even longer than he’d been flying aircraft, Steve figured he didn't need to worry about a helmet.

Especially since he had driven out to that hospital so many times he likely could’ve done it in his sleep.

“Hey, Sharon,” Steve said as he arrived on the paediatric floor, smiling fondly at the pretty, blonde-haired nurse sitting at the nurses’ station. “How’re you doing today?”

“Hey, Captain!” Sharon replied, shooting Steve a quick smile. “It’s always good to see you. How’s it going over on the flight deck?”

A stab of pain pierced Steve’s heart, one that he pointedly ignored. He didn't feel like talking about Riley’s death yet again.

“Oh, you know,” he said quickly. “Patrols and more patrols. I’m starting a new class tomorrow though, so maybe things’ll get switched up a bit.”

“Oh. Well, that sounds like fun,” said Sharon. “So, you here to see someone?”

Steve gave a nod. “Yeah, thought I’d stop by and see what Tyler’s been up to. Is he still here?”

“Actually, he’s not,” answered Sharon. “He finally turned a corner about three days ago and was just discharged earlier this morning. The doctors expect him to make a full recovery.”

“Aw, that’s wonderful!” Steve exclaimed, even as he felt a pang of regret. He had really enjoyed getting to know Tyler.

“I’m just sorry that I didn't get to say goodbye to him.”

“Yeah, especially with the nasty type of pneumonia that he had,” Sharon said with wide eyes. “Kids really are resilient, you know?”

“Yeah, they sure seem to be,” said Steve. “Is that why you love working with them so much? ‘Cause they’re resilient?”

“Oh gods yes,” Sharon said, nodding swiftly. “That, and they don't complain about stuff nearly as much as adults do.” She gave her keyboard a tap and grabbed another chart off the counter, one that was so thick that its binding was starting to fray. “There is another kid who just came in early this morning, though, and I’d wager that he would really appreciate some company. Especially from a hotshot pilot like yourself.”

“Oh? What’s his name?”

“Peter,” said Sharon. She tucked the chart to her chest and leaned forward, lowering her voice. “He’s got a pretty bad heart, poor kid, and when he came in this morning… well… if I ever have to see another kid’s face that awful shade of blue ever again, it’ll be way too soon.”

Steve winced, crossing his arms across his front. “How bad is he?”

“Pretty bad.” Sharon huffed out a sharp breath as she bit her bottom lip, lowering her voice even further. “I’m not really allowed to talk about his family, but… let’s just say that he needs a pretty expensive operation, but there’s a lot of mitigating circumstances out there that are muddying the waters. It just sucks because he doesn’t deserve any of it, you know? And yet he’s still the one that’s suffering for it.”

Anger welled up inside Steve’s gut, so strongly that it almost frightened him. He hadn't even met the child and yet already felt very protective of him. “Okay, but you're not saying that his parents—that they’re—?”

“Oh no, that’s not it at all,” Sharon assured him. “I don't think I’ve ever seen a more overprotective father than this kid’s dad. I mean, the only reason he’s not in there with him right now is because he was afraid that he’d get fired. It’s just… well… you know our government, right? I mean, you're around part of it every day, so…”

“Just the military part,” said Steve. “I don't really know much about what goes on in the civilian aspect.”

“Well… like I said. It all just pretty much sucks.” Sharon tilted her head, giving Steve a warm smile. “I’m sure he’ll perk up once he sees you, though. He’s a real sweetie, but he’s pretty down at the moment.”

“Well, then it’s a good thing I’m here,” Steve said. He tapped his palm on the counter, returning Sharon’s smile. “Thanks, Sharon.”

“Sure thing.”

Stepping down the hallway, Steve paused just outside the door to Peter’s room, his mind swirling with what Sharon’s cryptic words could possibly mean. What sort of mitigating circumstances could exist that would be murky enough to prevent a child from getting a potentially life-saving surgery, especially if he was as bad off as Sharon made it sound?

And she had only mentioned the boy’s father, so did that mean he didn't have a mom? Or that the mom wasn't involved?

Ultimately Steve knew it really wasn't any of his business, but yet he couldn’t help but wonder.

Inhaling a deep breath, Steve gently knocked on the door.

“Come in?” a small voice responded, weak and timid.

Stepping inside the room, Steve was greeted by a young boy, maybe ten or eleven years old, with probably the biggest and sweetest brown eyes that he had ever seen, partially hidden by a mop of brown curls that hung across his forehead. The boy’s skin was ghostly pale, nearly as white as the various bandages covering the three separate intravenous tubes, but he smiled kindly as Steve approached him, letting out a weak, wet cough as he raised his hand to wave hello.

“Hello,” he said, tilting his head as his eyes narrowed. “I’m Peter.”

“Hello Peter,” said Steve, attempting a smile. This boy was far, far sicker than Tyler had ever been, and Steve wasn’t quite sure he was comfortable with that yet. “My name is Steve.”

“Hi Steve,” said Peter. “You're not another doctor?”

“No, I’m not,” answered Steve. “I’m actually a pilot with the Langaran Air Corps.”

“Oh,” Peter said, eyeing Steve suspiciously. “Okay, so then why are you here?”

The prologue for The Phoenix Project will post on Monday, March 23rd, with new chapters posting weekly until the story concludes 😊

#the phoenix project #superfamily #stony #iron dad and spider son #superhusbands #superfamily fanfiction #stony fanfiction #iron dad fanfiction #superhusbands fanfiction #steve rogers #tony stark #peter parker #parent tony stark #kid peter #sam wilson #bucky barnes #carol danvers #james rhodes #sharon carter #alternate universe #science fiction #story preview #geeky writes

[lovelyirony]

ravenclaw!tony x quidditch player!rhodey (i'm not sure which house)

Tony was never very interested in Quidditch. He was an excellent flyer, that much can be said. But he was more focused on his inventions and making sure that Professor Pierce didn’t find out that he was using the time that he spent lecturing about “the illustrious history of wizards (who were predominantly pureblood)” to do more useful things, like take a nap or invent a quill that could write longer than fifteen minutes. And, you didn’t have to dictate it. 

So Quidditch was rarely his thing, although occasionally he let Sharon drag him down or he went to go see Bruce play. 

This time, it was Ravenclaw against Gryffindor. Bruce had told Tony it would be quite an interesting match because it was a real competition this time, and it’s not like Tony had any homework due. He’d done it all at least a week in advanced. 

So Tony went down to the stands and stood with the rest of the crowd, a hum of excitement buzzing in the air. 

The teams came swirling out of the gates, cheers erupting. But while Tony is cheering and looking for Bruce, someone else catches his eye. 

It’s a very attractive man in red and gold, laughing as Sharon fist-bumps him. He doesn’t know who that is, but he wants to. Suddenly, he’s glad that he’s in the first row. 

The game becomes more interesting. Tony secretly cheers as the guy zooms and scores and people around him groan. 

“Fucking James,” a guy next to him murmurs. 

“Is that the Gryffindor?” Tony asks. 

“Yeah, James Rhodes. A nice guy, absolute beast on the field.” 

“I don’t think I’ve seen him before,” Tony says. 

“That’s because you’re a gigantic nerd who only stays inside during most matches,” Maria hollers. “He goes by Jim and he’s in our Muggle Studies class!” 

“Good to know,” Tony says, looking forward. Pepper rolls her eyes as she finds Tony in the crowd. 

“So, you finally noticed Jim.” 

“Sorry that I was utilizing my time for education instead of ogling someone,” Tony retorts. “My bad.” 

They both turn back to the game. Pepper is surprisingly invested in the game of Quidditch. Her father and mother had met through the sport, both professionally involved. She had surprised both by not entering in to play for Ravenclaw, which they had expected. 

But she cheers loudly as Bruce knocks a bludger directly out of space right into...

James Rhodes. He obviously isn’t expecting it, but it slams into his stomach and he gets knocked off his broom, falling. There are gasps, and Tony can’t bear it. 

He uses a cushioning charm, which could be potentially dangerous seeing as how it was advanced for what he was doing in magic, and he technically wasn’t supposed to know about it. 

James doesn’t know who the hell did the charm, but he grabs his broom and speeds back up. He doesn’t have time, not when the Ravenclaw Seeker is racing towards something that looks suspiciously shiny. 

The Ravenclaw team ends up winning, and James is left to brood as their captain rants about strategy for about the twenty-first-straight-minute. But after the brooding, their captain asks him how he knew about the cushioning charm. 

He blinks. 

“I didn’t.” 

So begins the great question: who did it? 

Pepper knows. So does Bruce. They tease Tony relentlessly about his new crush. 

“Leave it to Tony to put advanced magic as the first move,” Pepper says, reaching delicately across the table to grab a croissant. 

“Shut up,” Tony hisses. “I just...didn’t want him to get hurt. You remember that one kid who’s arm went boneless.” 

“Yeah, that was because of Lockhart, that idiot,” Bruce says, scowling. “I still can’t believe our Defense teacher wanted us to read one of his books. It’s shitty and plagiarized at the same time.” 

Tony laughs. 

“Yeah, you’re right. Luckily, we both bullshitted the essay to prove a point and she didn’t kick our ass.” 

“May’s a scary lady,” Pepper says, shuddering. “I heard she took on a den of vampires all by herself. They called her ‘The Cavalry’.” 

“Well luckily for us, she likes all three of us,” Tony says. “And I need to get to Advanced Arithmancy. I hope I don’t put my wand to my head out of boredom. I’ll see you guys in Muggle Studies!” 

The day goes well, until thirty minutes before Muggle Studies he remembers that they have it with Gryffindor, and this means he will see James Rhodes. 

The Gryffindors are a bunch who tend to not hold too many grudges, although quite a bit of pride was hurt. But they don’t hold it against most of the house and the lesson starts amicably. Their professor then decides they need partnerwork. 

“I’ll be pairing you up with a student from the other house,” Coulson says. “Alright, Pepper Potts with Carol Danvers....” Bruce gets paired with Eddie Brock, who’s been busy writing notes on his arm for a new story, and Tony’s left. 

“Anthony with James.” 

“Tony.” 

“Jim.” 

Coulson rolls his eyes. 

“You two are perfect then. Get to your lesson on researching different innovations, and your presentation will be in fifteen minutes. Two minutes each, be sure to be compelling.” 

Tony is nervous, but he flips through their textbook. Jim is a nice guy to look at. 

"So, you’re Tony?” he asks. 

“You’re...Rhodes?” 

“Call me Jim.” 

“Ah, no. Used to have a neighbor named Jim who tried to kill me when I started making his garden gnomes fly around.” 

“That’s problematic. How old were you?” 

“...seven.” 

“Then what are you gonna call me? Hmm?” 

“Well, I’m not sure, there are lots of possibilities. There’s Jimmy, which is--” 

“No.” 

“Alright, moving on then. Rhodes?” 

“What am I, a butler? Next.” 

“Jim-Jam.” 

“Oh god, that sounds....gross.” 

“Rhodey?” 

“I can....live with that.” 

By the time the conversation is starting to get friendlier, presentations are starting and Tony and newly-named Rhodey realize that they haven’t, in fact, researched any sort of Muggle device, so they will have to bullshit one. 

“Hope you know tech,” Tony mutters, as he stands up. “We researched the computers, which started out technically in the 19th century...” 

“...and now we’re dealing with virtual reality and the revolution of technology in relation to rising prices,” Rhodey finishes. 

“I’m glad you both did thorough research...unlike some of your classmates.” 

(Tony can see the birds that Pepper and Bruce are flipping him, and he nearly laughs out loud as he makes his way to his seat.) 

But Rhodey smiles back at him, and Tony waves. 

When Rhodey comes back to the common room with a tune humming, the whole of the house knows that Rhodey’s feeling something. 

“Who’s the lucky guy?” Carol hollers. 

“What?” Rhodey asks, closing his textbook. 

“Who’s got you dazed and in loooveee?” She sing-songs, tie askew. 

“Nobody,” Rhodey says. “And quit it.” 

“You only hum when you have a crush,” Sharon reminds him. “Remember when you liked Sam?” 

“Please make me forget the humiliation of finding out that he was already dating somebody,” Rhodey says. “And don’t announce this to everyone.” 

But it’s too late, because all of Gryffindor knows and then Carol, Thor, and Sharon make him tell them at midnight. 

“A guy from Muggle Studies,” Rhodey admits. “Name is Tony.” 

Sharon laughs, eyes wide. 

“You mean Tony Stark? My cousin? Oh my god, this is gonna be hilarious.” 

“If you make fun of me I’m going to snipe you,” Rhodey says, flopping onto his back with his pillow. “Now let me sleep.” 

Similarly, Pepper and Bruce have also made fun of Tony. 

“You like him. You gave him a nickname and everything. It took me four months to get one,” Bruce says. “And you gave him one in, like, two seconds. That has to mean true love.” 

“Well sorry I’m not calling someone something as dignified as James or as awful as Jim,” Tony says. “Besides, he’s just cute. I don’t really know anything about him other than he has a nice face and seems nice.” 

“That’s all you need,” Pepper reminds him. “Now come on and try not to look for him when breakfast is.” 

Tony looks for Rhodey. Because of course he does. But Rhodey is looking over his way, and he turns red and waves. Rhodey smiles back, and goes over to talk with him. 

“Oh god,” Tony mutters, trying desperately to swallow the roll he shoved in his mouth quite quickly. He doesn’t manage to and has to spit it into a napkin and face Rhodey, who is laughing a bit. 

“The rolls that bad?” 

“Just a bit on the stale side,” Tony lies. Bruce and Pepper are looking studiously at the bagels that are on their plates, and trying desperately not to belie the laughs they want to belt out. 

“Well just wanted to say hi, wonder what you’re up to. You coming to the next match?” 

“It’s you guys against...Slytherin, right?” 

“Yeah,” Rhodey says. “I’m gonna see if we can kick ass. Natasha’s back with a vengeance.” 

“She tends to like the sharp cuts and daring dives,” Tony says. “Stay steady and don’t chase after her, because she will beat you.” 

“You gonna be there?” 

“Not sure yet,” Tony says, smiling. “Why?” 

“Just thought you’d like to see it,” Rhodey says, shrugging. “I’ll see you soon, okay?” 

“You got it.” 

When Tony turns back to Bruce and Pepper, they look very unimpressed. 

“You need to go to that match,” Bruce says. “And this is coming who only comes for Thor and literally nothing else if I’m not playing.” 

“It’s true,” Pepper says. “Go, and be in the Gryffindor section. I’ll loan you my golden-red scarf.” 

“Why?” 

“Guys like seeing the person they like in their colors,” Pepper says, smiling. “You should invite him to come with you to Hogsmeade. He’d probably indulge your sweet tooth a bit.” 

“That is true,” Bruce says. “Or you guys could watch the new band that is playing at the bar.” 

Tony turns red. 

“I should go, shouldn’t I?” 

“Don’t be an idiot,” Bruce says. “I’ll come with you.” 

Tony starts looking for different Gryffindor scarves to wear, because Pepper’s is too bold. He wants something understated. 

As it turns out, Gryffindor doesn’t do understated. They’re all bold and they all keep asking why he wants it, and he breaks down and says that he’s going for Rhodey, and he wants to fit in. 

Sharon elbows him and gets a sweater. 

“I love this,” Tony gushes. “Thanks for letting me borrow your stuff, Sharon.” 

Carol looks on as he rushes down the hallway. 

“He doesn’t know that’s Rhodey’s, right?” she asks. 

“No, no he does not,” Sharon adds, grinning. “I think our guy might just run into a hoop. Do you think they count in-love players as points?” 

“If we bribe Sam enough,” Carol snickers. “Hope you didn’t just doom us for tomorrow.” 

(She almost did, but Rhodey’s a good player. 

But he does go in for a kiss on his broom, and it makes a lovely picture for the school picture.) 

#lovelyirony writes #hogwarts au #FUCK THIS WAS LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED #ironhusbands #thorbruce #carol danvers #tony stark #pepper potts #bruce banner #thor #rhodey #war machine #iron man #natasha romanoff #maria hill

[witchymarvelspacecase]

An Enemy on the One Hand: Pt 5b

Summary: (Reader Insert - Soulmate AU/Enemy AU) The universe determined your soulmate and destined enemy at birth, giving you one hint for each; their initials on one of your wrists. But what happens if BOTH sets of initials are for the same person? Set during CA:CW

Word Count: 1754

Warnings: a little bit of Black Panther spoilers, fluff(ish), angst(ish)

A/N: beta’d by the most AMAZING @writingwithadinosaur, who continues to help my sporadic ass. I do ont deserve her 🤗😍

Really sorry about my unexplained drop off the planet!!!

Okay, still off on my own, still very FIRMLY pretending that Infinity War didn’t happen. This is another short part, with no Reader this time, though we do have mentions of her, and she is quoted.

Bucky was intensely glad that he hadn’t been around for T’challa’s confrontation with his cousin. He would have helped of course, but he was so tired of fighting. So tired of everything that came with the conflicts he’d been a part of. Honestly, he was tired of people and all the trouble they brought with them.

When he’d woken, and been introduced to the medical team that would be helping him, the only request he’d made was that he be left alone as much as possible. Steve had balked at that, but Bucky’s request wasn’t personal. He needed time alone in his head to straighten stuff out.

“Stuff”

He had to try and straighten out over 70 years worth of sketchy memories and unfinished thoughts; that wasn’t possible with so many other voices. HYDRA had made a point not to give him much time to think. When they noticed him starting to attempt to straighten out his thoughts, they’d wipe him. Bucky needed to be able to think. He hoped that he’d still be able to spend time around other people, especially Steve. But in the beginning, he needed space.

He’d talked to Steve frequently though, usually over the phone or using some other fancy tech device. As Bucky had progressed, he’d begun to ask Shuri more and more questions about the astounding technology that he saw in Wakanda. Shuri seemed happy to show him, and soon, she had set aside a small space in her lab for him. She’d give him a piece of tech, tell him its purpose, and let him fiddle with it; never to the point of allowing him to potentially harm himself or others though. She let him figure out the mechanics by himself, and he was a quick study. The members of the team that visited him could see a personality starting to show where there hadn’t been one before.

Steve could see pieces of his friend showing through. Bucky wasn’t the same man he’d been, wouldn’t ever be again, but that young man from the 40’s was still coming through as a part of the James Barnes sitting across from him outside Shuri’s lab.

“I look at this thing,” Bucky said as he and Steve sat facing one of the Wakandan ships, “and all I can think of is that flyin’ car from the expo, before I shipped out.” Bucky’s voice trailed off as he remembered the inventor behind that flying car. A man who’s murder he’d perpetrated. No. That wasn’t right. He hadn’t killed Howard Stark. HYDRA had killed Howard and Maria Stark and deprived Tony of his parents. Bucky had been nothing more than a passenger in his own body. Not his fault. HYDRA’s.

Though Bucky was still unbearably sad at the thought of Howard’s death among the dozens, if not hundreds, of other murders HYDRA had committed, with or without the Soldier’s involvement, he swallowed the pain. There was no changing what had happened, all he could do was push forward; live free of HYDRA’s influence. As himself.

Clearing his throat, he looked away from the ship before speaking again. “I know I’ve been askin’ a lotta questions.”

“I wish I had more answers for you, Buck,” Steve said, his arms crossed as he looked down.

“I just got one more-”

“Oh, only one?” Steve looked up, a disbelieving, almost smile on his face as he gently taunted his friend.

“Punk,” Bucky muttered without pausing. Steve’s “almost smile” became a full on grin.

“Jerk,” he responded, jostling Bucky’s shoulder with his own. After a pause, Steve asked, “what’s your question?”

“In DC, when you first found me, there was someone else with you. She was on the carrier too.” Bucky paused. He could remember her face, her voice, and feeling something like burning on his right wrist, a sensation he’d never felt in that spot before. He’d felt it on his left wrist, he could remember, when Steve had rescued him from the lab, Bucky’s left wrist had been in agonizing pain, but he’d been to focused on escaping to wonder why. “Shuri said something about soulmates. I- I think I remember when we were younger- we tried to figure out who the initials on our wrists belonged to.” He looked at Steve, then at Steve’s wrists; at the unintelligible blur on Steve’s right wrist, and the “M.C.” on his left.

Margaret “Peggy” Carter… but she was dead. After a person died, the mark on their soulmate’s wrist faded, at least that’s what he’d been told growing up. So, Steve’s “M.C.”?

“What about it, Buck?” Steve prompted, cutting off Bucky’s train of thought.

“I- I don’t remember much, but I know she- she’s important. It’s like her image sticks out in my mind. Even though so much of what happened to me is a blur, she is clear. Is- Is she…” Bucky couldn’t finish his sentence, but he looked up at Steve.

Steve’s smile softened, but didn’t dim. “You know, she helped Nat, Sam and I find you? She was willing to try and help you, even before she was sure you were her soulmate. Hell, you coulda been her enemy; she was still willing to help me get to you.” Steve turned so he was facing Bucky, putting his hands on his friend’s shoulders. “‘J.B.B.’ are the initials on her right wrist. ‘W.S.’ is on her left.” Steve took Bucky’s right arm and turned it over so his wrist was facing up. “These are her initials. Yes, Bucky. She’s your soulmate.”

It could have been seconds, it could have been hours later when the crazy wash of emotions abated, allowing Bucky to think clearly again. Clearly enough to realize he hadn’t seen her since he’d woken.

“Where is she?” he asked, half hoping, but suspecting something was very wrong.

Steve’s face pinched and his arms crossed over his chest again. He sighed and it came out almost a growl. “She got information to help the doctors here. She’s most of the reason they could get you cleared so fast, but she got caught in the process.” Steve was still pissed she’d gone behind his back. Pissed that she’d planned ahead enough to leave those letters behind, but not enough to keep from being caught. He understood why she’d done it. He would probably have done something worse in her place, but he was still fuming. Now, Bucky was too.

Steve pulled the letter that she’d left for Bucky out of his pocket . He’d taken to carrying it around with him, like if he carried it, maybe he could will Bucky to come back. For all he knew, maybe it had worked. Either way, Steve handed the slightly crumpled envelope to Bucky.

“She left letters behind, explaining what she’d done. In mine at least, she asked me to try to understand, to not be angry with her, among other things.” Steve shook his head. “She’s alive, and I have a good idea where she is. We just don’t have a plan to get her out yet.”

Later that night, Bucky sat, alone in his small home as his head whirled. He didn’t know where she was, Steve wouldn’t tell him, and he could only imagine what was being done to her. Because of him. She’d been caught helping him. His hand shook as he gripped the unopened envelope. He stared at it.

“Staring at the envelope won’t show you it’s contents, Sergeant Barnes,” Shuri said from her position in the doorway to Bucky’s home.

“I thought I told ya, it’s ‘Bucky’,” he sighed. Usually, talking to Shuri was easy. It made him feel relaxed, happy. He could feel a tingle of memory when she would talk excitedly about whatever she was working on. He couldn’t remember much of his sisters, but Shuri’s bright spirit brought those memories back. But, his head was too focused on the letter, and the woman who wrote it.

“I helped her, you know?”

Bucky’s head shot up, his eyes immediately finding Shuri’s. “What?”

“She came to me, explained what she’d found, and asked me to help her. I agreed.” When Bucky looked like he was about to speak, Shuri continued. “While you were in stasis, she was upset that she couldn’t help. She felt useless. She spent every moment she had in your room, trying to find something, anything to help the doctors. She wanted to help and she knew what she was getting into. Mr. Stark warned her again, just before the information transfer. He gave her a chance to back out, but she refused.” Shuri tapped the small beads at her wrist and a voice recording started to playback.

“I’m trying to access an experiment you did a while ago. I went through MIT first, but it ain’t there. So, here I am.” That was his soulmate’s voice.

A sigh from the other person, a man. “You know you’re a fugitive, right? On the run? Shouldn’t be sticking your neck out like this or you’ll get caught and taken somewhere shitty? What the hell are you thinking? Did Rogers put you up to this? I swear to-”

“It was my idea, Tony.”

“Why?”

“Bucky’s my soulmate, Tony. I know what happened. I know what was done; both to you and him. It may never be fixed. But I gotta try, Tony. I have to.”

A quiet beep, the recording being fast-forwarded, and the man’s voice came back.

“You seriously willing to go this far for Barnes?”

“He’s my soulmate, Tony,” her voice said plainly, “and he’s been through enough. He deserves a chance.”

“Don’t you think he’d rather have that chance with you in it though?”

“He doesn’t really know me, Tony. As much as I’d like that… love that. It’s not worth him not having that chance at all.”

Shuri stopped the playback there, and let the silence hang, uninterrupted for a few moments.

“Read your letter, Bucky. Then I will show you the information I’ve gathered on where your soulmate is being hidden.” Shuri gave him a small, slightly sly smile as she turned and left Bucky alone.

He sat, stunned for several minutes before he was able to move. Tearing open the envelope with one hand was more difficult that he’d have liked, but once the letter was open, he couldn’t have cared less about it’s packaging. It only took him seconds to read over all of it and then he was sprinting in the direction he’d seen Shuri heading.

Perma Tags (Open): @buckyappreciationsociety , @17marvelousfreak , @melconnor2007 , @writingwithadinosaur , @whenallsaidanddone , @hello-sweetie-get-the-salt , @umwhatandrea , @pineapplebooboo , @thefridgeismybestie , @its-not-the-kat , @xlemon-limex , @sammysgirl1997 , @4theluvofall , @geeksareunique , @madcheshire89 , @shakzer00 , @ajimagines, @allltheships , @loki-god-of-my-life , @battlebunnyteardropsinthesun, @mummy-woves-you @isnt-the-blog-youre-looking-for Avengers Perma Tags (Open): @ldyhawkeye , @gonnadiereading , @ohmybuckybarnes Bucky/Sebastian Tags (Open): @waywardpumpkin, @smileybear17, @not-sebastian-stan  @ohmybuckybarnes

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#AEOTOH #an enemy on the one hand #bucky barnes x reader #Bucky bares x enhanced!reader #avengers fic

[pass-the-bechdel]

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Does it pass the Bechdel Test?

Yes, once.

How many female characters (with names and lines) are there?

Five (29.41% of cast).

How many male characters (with names and lines) are there?

Twelve.

Positive Content Rating:

Three.

General Film Quality:

No matter how many times I watch this, I’m always surprised by how excellent it is. If any other future Marvel film wants to be ‘the best’, this is the movie it has to beat for the title. 

MORE INFO (and potential spoilers) UNDER THE CUT:

Passing the Bechdel:

Natasha asks about the ballistics on the weapon used against Fury, and Maria responds. I’ve heard people argue that Natasha was not asking Maria specifically and therefore this does not count, but since Natasha clarifies a detail of Maria’s response (to which Maria responds again in order to confirm), I definitely think it qualifies. I have allowed a pass for far, far less in the past. 

Female characters:

Natasha Romanov.

Peggy Carter.

Maria Hill.

Sharon Carter.

Renata.

Male characters:

Steven Rogers.

Sam Wilson.

Brock Rumlow.

Georges Batroc.

Jerome.

Jasper Sitwell.

Nick Fury.

Alexander Pierce.

Aaron.

Arnim Zola.

Senator Stern.

Bucky Barnes.

OTHER NOTES:

They start this movie by having Steve go for a jog and make a new friend, with a conversation ensuing that is by touches casual, light, humorous, insightful, serious, and sobering. It’s a pretty weird way to launch a much-anticipated superhero comic-adaptation action movie sequel, to be honest, but it’s also rock-solid character establishment - for the never-before-seen Sam Wilson, and for Steve Rogers whose mental state and coping skills in the modern era are kinda an open question at this point - and by getting us on level with Steve’s day-to-day (rather than Captain America’s, which comes after) they’ve immediately prepped us for a story in which this character confronts and reassesses who he is and what he stands for at a core level, and not just in a symbolic/legacy kind of fashion (a la Tony Stark). It may say ‘Captain America’ on the tin, but this is Steven Rogers’ story. This is a fantastic and well-condensed first three minutes of this film, before they fly off to deliver the action sequence we may well have expected to have received up-front. 

Oh yeah, also this opening scene involves jogging around the Washington Monument, which is not a subtle detail, but I can dig it. If they’d had Steve draw attention to some Major American Landmark at some point in the movie and make a patriotic declaration of some kind, then I’d cry foul, but as-is the use of Washington DC as a setting is the hardest they bother to hammer the AMERICA button. The absence of self-fellating patriotism which I appreciated so much in the first film continues to be a virtue in this one. I do dig.

Remember how I really love it when people get hit and fly off the screen? Steve just kicked a dude off a boat and I made the dorkiest ‘hee hee!’ noise ever. Sure am glad the only reason anyone knows about that is that I just told y’all, and not because anyone actually heard me.

One day, we’ll stop getting these kinds of gratuitous butt shots of female characters in tight clothes. But it sure ain’t this day.

In a world of equal-opportunity sexualisation, this Cap-butt would be forgiveness enough for the aforementioned offense. But it still sure ain’t that day, friends.

Other reasons to love that opening scene: they low-balled Sam’s counseling skills to us by having him quickly identify the best way to speak to Steve and to engage with him (as Steve, again, not as Captain America; that’s the key), and that’s what allows Steve to bond with him enough that, put in a tight spot and not sure who to trust, he shows up on Sam’s doorstep later in the film. Really tight characterisation and dynamic-building.

ALSO, Steve’s adventure to the Captain America museum exhibit reminds us all of what he’s lost - specifically, Bucky Barnes - and contextualises his encounters with Sam Wilson within the emotional landscape of Steve’s desire for close male companionship, highlighting the need which compels the formation of that bond while also accentuating the sense of Steve’s present isolation and uncertainty, robbed of any understanding confidante (the bittersweet reality of having Peggy Carter still alive, but losing herself to Alzheimer's, really hits that one home). Again, Steve’s emotional landscape is actually a vital part of the story of the film on both character and plot levels, so there’s a LOT of great show-don’t-tell demonstration in the interconnections of all these scenes, PLUS they’re doing the good work for all the other characters involved AND reminding the audience of the score so that the film can continue to draw from the past as the movie continues, without losing any viewers for whom this might be the first foray into the Captain America story. This movie is just...really well put together, guys. It’s a little shocking, how good it is.

Winter Soldier intro is too cool. Not a pun.

Steve takes a chance and asks his neighbour out for coffee; she declines with a soft no; he accepts even-tempered and assures her he won’t trouble her any further, and she lets him know that he’s no trouble and there’s no hard feelings. It’s all a very painless and respectful navigation of boundaries, and taken on face value (ignoring the part where she turns out to be an undercover SHIELD agent, and everything which unfolds from there), it’s a welcome example of how easy it is to take rejection graciously. Guys, be the Steve Rogers that women want to see in the world.

I want a metal arm. I don’t want to not have my current arms, they’re fine, but in an abstract version of the world where you have things purely for cool points, I want a metal arm.

The fight choreography in this film is great. It’s good watchin’. 

Also the soundtrack is top-end. 

“...Specimen.”

The movie didn’t need a hetero kiss thrown in there, though. I sure wish there wasn’t a random kiss in there.

“The answer to your question is fascinating. Unfortunately, you shall be too dead to hear it.” 

Urgh, why Senator Stern gotta show up, be a pig about women, make his little Nazi declaration, and leave? The answer is, he really doesn’t gotta. You know what’s good shit? Not using misogyny and objectification of women to demonstrate that a bad guy is a bad guy, unless it’s actually a relevant part of the story. One day...

I can’t deal with how cool the Winter Soldier is. I’m almost embarrassed by how much the whole Silent Sauntering Assassin thing works for me.

Sam Wilson brings a tiny knife to a gunfight and still gets the upper hand because he’s perfect.

THE FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHYYYYY

The Winter Soldier is barely in the film in the first hour, and Bucky is referenced in the museum but not discussed by any of the characters, so there’s no lantern hanging on either the mystery of the Winter Soldier’s identity or the conspicuous reminder of a supposedly dead character (another reason why tying the memory of Bucky in so tightly with Steve’s present state of comfortless seclusion is important and clever). If you somehow managed not to be spoiled for it already, the Bucky reveal is a real kicker of a twist.

The degree to which I adore Sebastian Stan’s attention to detail in his performance has increased tenfold since The First Avenger. Dude has got nuances on his nuances.

The part of me that is emotionally susceptible to heroism is very moved by all the nameless SHIELD agents who stand up to HYDRA and die for it. 

I join the rest of the world in being really disappointed that what appeared to be Jenny Agutter’s councilwoman kicking Strike Team ass was actually just Black Widow. Sorry Natasha.

The Winter Soldier shows up and murderises a heap of pilots, and the part of me that is susceptible to heroism finds itself in conflict with the part that is susceptible to the Winter Soldier’s ineffable coolness (which is itself at odds with the part of me that wants Bucky Barnes to be safe and happy). This movie got me good.

Rumlow talkin’ some shit about pain and Sam’s just like “Man, shut the Hell up,” and it’s perfect. I love him.

I love this film. I mean I really, really love it. Like, I mean this is one of my favourite movies in the world. Like, if we were playing that ol’ game of ‘if you had to pick ten movies, and those were the only movies you were allowed to watch for the rest of your life’, this would be one of my ten movies. That’s how much I love this film. There’s so much to get into here, so much to enjoy: it’s light and easily-digestible enough for when you just want to be entertained by something that doesn’t demand too much from you, but it also has serious depths for when you’re in the mood to dig in. It has well-crafted action scenes, but also a strong plot with powerful emotional currents. It has wonderful, charismatic actors playing intriguing characters, and most of them are good eye candy, but none of them are just eye candy - there’s a lot of complexity to unravel in the motivations and personal narratives of the leads. It’s a superhero movie, sure, but it’s also a political spy thriller. And, to top it off, it’s not only an excellent stand-alone film, it’s also a fantastic example of how to do a sequel right.

Sequel-making can be a fraught business; you’ve got sequels that are basically just pointless retreads of the original, sequels that are so different they hardly count as sequels at all, sequels that are so busy trying to be ‘bigger and better’ than the original they become ridiculous, sequels so busy attempting to capitalise on the spectacle of the original that they forget to have any of the same heart that gave the original meaningful impact, sequels that ignore that the original had a plot and themes and that maybe that stuff was relevant to its success, etc, etc...there are lots of great sequels in the world, certainly, but as Iron Man 2 and Thor: The Dark World already attested for the MCU, it is very, very easy for sequels to go wrong. For this film, I think it goes without saying that I feel they passed all of the above sequel-killing quality tests with flying (low-key red-white-and-blue) colours, hence my adoration. But, just for kicks, lets talk about how they did it.

For starters, you can pretty much guarantee that this isn’t gonna be a pointless retread of Captain America: The First Avenger, since this movie takes place seventy years later and there are certain essential world elements that have fundamentally changed, such as technology, characters, and the fact that WWII ended a good while previous. But, that’s exactly how they make this story work as a sequel: they use the nature of change to give the film its shape, thematically, politically, emotionally, and in doing so they assure that everything which is different in the present builds directly from the past. Steve Rogers has not fundamentally changed, and that’s a critical anchor, considering he’s the titular character and all, but he is in a state of flux due to everything else that has changed, and his doubts inform the narrative landscape. This is not the world he remembers, and yet, as the plot unfolds and he digs into the conspiracy at his feet, there’s plenty there that is hauntingly familiar, because this is a story about how the past is still alive and kicking in the present, it has just updated to keep with the times.

It’s worth noting that despite Captain America making the jump from the forties to the modern age without any stop-offs in between, the film doesn’t linger on or wallow in the differences in his world in any strict sense - even Steve himself (in that EXTREMELY well-crafted opening scene with Sam) is somewhat dismissive of the specifics, because he’s not dwelling on the oh-woe-things-have-changed, he’s just trying to get his head around it, adapt, and move forward (and the practical realities are easy enough, but the emotional facets? Yeah). The thing is of course, no one else shares this problem with Steve; they’ve all been around, variously, for the parts in between, and the story is still concerned with the context of the world which made all of its characters what they are, and particularly with the war that came after WWII, the war within which HYDRA reseeded and began to grow anew: the Cold War. In particular, it’s the ‘70s/’80s era Cold War, built into the political-thriller superstructure of the film itself and driven home most overtly by the Winter Soldier, heavily Russian-coded and steeped in the potent psychological horror of brainwashing, but there are other signifiers littered across the story as well. There’s former-KGB agent Black Widow, and the reference she makes to WarGames, and there’s Arnim Zola frozen in time by the ancient computer system which now acts as his ‘brain’, and then there’s the stroke of subversive genius in the casting of Robert Redford - the positively Captain America-esque blue-eyed-blond hero of many a seventies Cold War political thriller - as our primary villain, working within the United States government for the benefit of his secret European-originating agenda in true foreign-infiltration style. Of course, we can adapt all of this to fit the radicalised terrorism and technological paranoia of modern times (and those elements are alive and well in the text with the surveillance-state fears represented by the helicarriers), but the historical timestamping is important to the trajectory of the film; times change and things grow increasingly subtle and complicated, but the core dilemmas that call people out to fight are instantly familiar. In that sense, Steve Rogers hasn’t missed much at all.

The war that calls Cap to arms this time around may be more subtle than the openly-fought battlefields of WWII, but it is no less global or insidious; the new ‘improved’ HYDRA may not be led by a literal Nazi who peels off his own face, but the cold political calculations of Alexander Pierce are much more frightening for their realism (an aspect of the film which has become increasingly prescient for the modern era since the movie was released), and the fascist supremacist dogma that compels these villains to attempt to reshape the world with the blood of millions is drawn from the same poisoned well; this is an escalation of the same enemy that Captain America faced before, only much closer to home. And while the passage of time has benefited the old evils in allowing them to entrench and fester and craft re-branded, more socially-accepted versions of themselves, it has not been so favourable to the positive familiar things from Steve’s past: it has claimed Peggy’s memory, and rotted SHIELD beyond recovery. And then, there’s what it’s done to Bucky Barnes.

Fake-out character deaths are a major staple of the superhero/comic genre, and not one I love, since it tends to take the power out of apparent-death scenes and leaves the drama feeling contrived, and while the Bucky reveal is not entirely free from that cynicism, it sells itself well on delivery. For starters, it packs a wallop in additional drama instead of just neatly undoing that which already existed (Nick Fury’s ‘death’ and reveal, on the other hand, is more in the classic line of cheap and inconsequential), and it ups the personal stakes for Steve in exactly the same way as Bucky’s ‘death’ did in The First Avenger. Crucially, the fact that Bucky is the Winter Soldier doesn’t alter the wider narrative in any convenient way, such as providing Captain America with the key to stopping him or resolving the other conflicts of the plot through his connection; the Bucky reveal reconnects the story to Steve’s emotional journey, which is exactly where it started before Shit Got Crazy - there’s a good reason they spent the first half hour of the movie on charting Steve’s mental state. There’s a sharp division between Bucky Barnes and the Winter Soldier, despite them both inhabiting the same form, and it’s a mirror of the division between Steve Rogers and Captain America: regardless of all assumptions to the contrary, the two are mutually exclusive entities. ‘Captain America’ is not a person, he’s a symbol, and he’s manipulable in that way, he can be propagandised, his image and actions are a tool turned to the purposes of others at the expense of the human underneath; Steve recognises this (and has since the first film), and he holds this secondary persona at a remove and does not define himself through it. This is what Sam’s keen social instincts pick up so quickly in the beginning: treating Steve as Captain America is the wrong approach, it fails to connect, because Steve is not the uniform, Steve has doubts, Steve could give up the shield; Steve is a person. Bucky doesn’t have the same luxuries, in opportunities, in company, or in the cognizant ability to define his own identity, but even without the personal attachment of their history, Steve is uniquely positioned to understand the difference between the Winter Soldier and the person buried beneath the title. If it was not Bucky, specifically, the visceral emotion of the mirrored experience wouldn’t land quite as strong, but either way the Winter Soldier is the realisation of Steve’s deep-seated fear of being made a puppet, an unthinking enforcer too heavily indoctrinated into patriotic subservience to recognise the despotism that has replaced his idealism. 

I said at the top that this is, ultimately, a Steven Rogers story to which ‘Captain America’ is an accessory, and not the other way around, and that’s a fact at the heart of what makes this film work - on its own, and as a sequel. The fore-fronting of Steve as a character in his own right and not just ‘Captain America’s real name’ was key to avoiding any cloying patriotism overriding the narrative of the first film, and it’s doubly important now as both Steve and the Captain America brand re-situate outside of their original context. It’s easy to strip back the specific trappings of Captain America and still have this movie function just right, because for all the action and intrigue, it is essentially a character piece about Steve Rogers figuring out his place in the world and reclaiming the moral compunctions which have been presumptuously attributed to the lofty symbol of his alter ego, and not the struggling reality of everyday life. Captain America is what he is and how he is not because it sounds good or because it makes for positive PR or because it’s nice to have legends from the good ol’ days; Captain America is the embodiment of scrappy little Steve Rogers’ grit and determination to live up to what he believes in, come Hell or high water or the gravest of consequences. Steve begins the film at odds with himself, unsure if there’s a place for his shameless idealism within the mess of modern life; he’s going through the motions of being Captain America, but he’s uncertain of what it means to him at this point, or where it’s headed. He finishes the film having gained something vital: a mission, but it’s not a professional job for Captain America, it’s a personal mission for Steve Rogers, and that’s much more important. Captain America is just an idea; Steve Rogers is the reason it matters, no matter what war, what time, what place, or what flag.

#MCU #Marvel Cinematic Universe #Captain America: The Winter Soldier #Bechdel Test #female representation

[rosesmith18]

(PnF) Headcanon #7 Thomarie Nitpicks #1 Bridgette

The next couple of post will be centered around some critics I have with both the ship Thomarie as a whole as well as the characters evolved in it, and their general world. For those who don't know the ship Thomarie is centered around (OC)Maria Flynn & (OC)Thomas Fletcher. I will mention this again at the end of the post, but more about the canonical versions of these characters can be found on angelus19 & sam-ely-ember deviantart(Thomas Belongs to Melty64). If you can not tell I will not be working with a lot of the canon information about these characters as I'm not really in to it-as I will explain with the next couple post-but the fact remains I did not create these characters. Critic #1: Bridgette(Bridgette belongs to Orthgirl123 on DeviantArt) Okay, it's best to start with the longest post as to get it out of the way. I HATE Bridgette as written in the MnT(Marie & Thomas) Universe. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, and I am not trying to bash the character herself. I am talking completely in the context of her role in MnT. She is written as nothing, but a generic secondary love interest from a bad teen romcom. I read the post her creator made about her, and it gives the character a lot of potential that is never used. The rundown is that Bridgette's dad went MIA(Missing in Action) when she was around nine or something, so her mom remarries meaning Bridgette has a step-dad & new brother. Bridgette says in that post that she had a good life with nothing to complain about, yet she goes on about how she hides her 'real self' out of fear, and ends up coming off as a jerk to everyone around her. Again I do not hate the character, she has potential, but not in the way her creator tries to portray. Because I hate to break it to you, but girl if you come off as a massive jerk, you're not pretending, you are one. Like look, I get we all can be jerks by accident sometimes, but that doesn't mean you weren't a jerk, and the people you were a jerk to have the right to miffed about it. See what Bridgette has is a classic case of 'Victims Complex', she believes she has a right to act this way towards people, because she was hurt once. She wants the people around her to feel bad for her, and thinks her hurt garners her the right to be excused of her mistakes, when everyone else gets punished. So, do I feel bad for Bridgette? No. As a victim myself I can't feel bad for someone who uses their status as a victim to exploit the kindness and understanding of other people just so they can get away with not returning that kindness by being a massive jerk. Does this make her a bad character? Not at all. I think this type of personality has great potential, but it needs to be recognized for what it is first instead of sugar coating it to make a bland 'relatable' character. Which brings me back to the problem with her in MnT. In MnT Bridgette is portrayed as a a jerk whose actually really kind on the inside, and when Thomas accidentally sees that kindness, he accepts her invitation to go on a date. There she tells him her 'sad' backstory to garner sympathy from Thomas which works, and they become closer cause he's also a 'jerk' at times due to his past. By the end, Thomas chooses Marie over Bridgete causing the girl to go into a fit about how nothing in life goes her way, and Thomas comforting her with kind words. This, all of this, is BULLCRAP! Let's break this down one by one. First problem, being nice to ONE person does not excuse being mean to HUNDREDS on a daily bases. Secondly, no one goes out with the biggest jerk at their high school just cause they learned the person has the ability to be the bare minimum of a decent human being. Thirdly, using your sad backstory to garner sympathy when you know you've been a massive jerk is manipulative, and funny enough usually garners the exact opposite in real life. I've never met a nice guy whose tried to do that, and didn't instantly get blocked. Fourthly, Thomas' rude behavior is nothing to Bridgette's, they're incomparable, but I will compare them anyway. Thomas occasionally ignores people when they're talking to him, and on one or two occasions has given someone the finger. Bridgete started rumors about multiple people at her school(including Marie) that caused these kids to be taunted mercilessly by their classmates until they refused to come to school again. Yes, Thomas did try to turn the citizens of Danville into a mob of criminals that attacked each other(See the fanfic Monster on angelus19  deviantart. Warning it is only in Spanish), but he was nine, had been hit by a Emotion Enhancer(Look up the definition of enhance), and had been disappointed by his dad and annoyed by Marie all in the span of like half an hour. I think he gets a pass. Fifthly, the idea that Bridgete should be instantly forgiven after have a tantrum over losing to a girl she started horrible rumors about. And lastly, the idea that THOMAS of all people forgave her. I mean look I know in the canon Thomas is like just a brooding emo, but this boy tried to turn his own father into a criminal in Monster, and yet he harbors goodwill towards a random bully who started rumors about his crush? With that out of the way, let us proceed to the revision paragraph for this critic. How do we improve this character and story? Well, are goal is to make Bridgette if anything a realistic character which means she must have her own goals that make sense in the context of her past and personality. Those goals can be outlandish, but she should have some realistic ones on occasion. She should be bound to the rules of reality as well as her own society. Her actions must always have consequences of equal measure whether her actions are good or bad. She must be the norm not the exception, and those around her should not differ from their established character, merely on the basis that she exist. In summary, we don't want Bridgete to be special, because no one in life is special. Even Marie & Thomas shouldn't be special(more about this critic later). Yes, these characters should all be different, but the universe shouldn't show favoritism, because that means the creator shows favoritism which is not relatable. The creators of Phineas & Ferb are a great example of making the main characters unique, but not special in comparison to those around them. Every character has a talent, interest, goal, and even flaw unique to them. And, the only time someone is seen as above reality-the rule of equal consequence-is by other characters who don't understand the whole story. This makes even simple one or two off characters memorable for all the right reasons(ex. Any of Doofs ex-girlfriends.) Bridgette is not memorable, because she's a good character, she memorable because she's put above the other characters whenever she's around. In all my reading experiences with Bridgete I've never felt like I choose to focus on her because I really liked or related to her, I instead always felt like she was forced into my focus every other line of dialogue. I don't want to hate Bridgette, if I wanted to hate Bridgette I wouldn't be writing an entire critic about how she has WASTED potential. I would just rant about how she has NO potential. Alright, we've made it to the advice portion of the critic a.k.a the last paragraph of this post. In this paragraph I'm going to share the changes I've made to Bridgette in my own stories in a summarized manner. I will explain why I made these changes and the benefits they have on the character and story. Firstly, I changed the reason for Bridgette's interest in Thomas. In the story 'Who I Really Am' by Orthgirl123 on DeviantArt she writes that Bridgette didn't like Thomas originally, but just kinda started to like him. This is not only boring, but also makes no sense. She just...starts liking him? That's kinda not how people work. So, instead I came up with the idea that Thomas & Maria built something in class that backfired resulting in Bridgette breaking her arm. This leads to Thomas & Maria having to help Bridgete until her arm heals. Because of Bridgette's status as a bully not many people like her and no one is nice to her, so Thomas' kindness mixed with Bridgette's insecurities about her dad being gone result in what most would call 'Daddy Issues'. This change does many things, for starters it establishes a reason for Bridgette's feelings that make sense in the context of her character, secondly it establishes Bridgette delusional mental state. Bridgette being established as delusional is important for her arc. You see if we establish that Bridgette is oblivious to the plights of others, blinded by her own pain making her unable to see the error of her ways, we allow her to be cornered. Instead of being able to say she did a bad thing and just apologize for it which is unsatisfying when your someone who bullied a girl into basically a depressed state. Bridgette will be confronted leading to the breaking of her delusions. This will allow Bridgette to be blinded by confusion as well as denial for a short period before she spills her guts about what she did out of the new found unbearable guilt. Her broken delusional state allows Bridgette's subconscious to eat away at her in a way no punishment could. This character arc becomes even better when we tie to loose threads together. In the MnT canon universe Maria's school stalker takes her depressed state as an opportunity to make his stalking known to her hoping she will be desperate enough to accept his feelings. But, in my personal headcanon Bridgette is the one who tells the school stalker about the situation and encourages him to pursue Maria. This may sound extreme at first, but remember that Bridgette's horrible behavior is usually a fleeting comment. Even Maria hides her pain when baring with the insults Bridgette's rumors have incited others to sling Maria's way. These facts make it difficult for the readers to comprehend the pain Bridgette is really inflicting on these people to the extent at which they truly exist by making them seem unreal or a drifting matter with little effect. This portrayal of the effect Bridgette has on people also makes it more difficult for Bridgette herself to comprehend what she's truly doing to people. To Bridgette they are just words-that as a bully-she has had to endure plenty of times. She doesn't sympathize with or even pity the people she hurts, because they feel detached from her life-like her comments, a fleeting name on the wind. So, if we have Bridgette do something that has such a massive effect, like enticing a stalker to harass someone, we turn that fleeting name into a news story. We don't just make Maria a girl Bridgette started a hurtful rumor about, we make Maria a name on her tv, just like Bridgette's father. We don't just make Bridgette a bully who said horrible things about people, we make Bridgette a suspect in an assault and harassment case. We put faces to names and bring the consequences outside the school bubble that protected Bridgette for so long. But, what really breaks Bridgette's delusions is Thomas. In MnT canon Thomas learns Bridgette can be a decent human being, tries to make her a replacement for Maria, and watches Bridgette scream about never being good enough, and feels pity for her, forgiving her for making Maria(and others)depressed. In my headcanon, Thomas finds himself harassed by Bridgette after her arm heals. She never stops trying to coerce a date out of him which Thomas is both not used to, and does not appreciate. She learns of Thomas' feelings for Maria, and tells him she is better then Maria so he should pick her, but Thomas only responds that if she is aware of his feeling she should give up before she hurts herself, he won't play games with her. And, when Thomas learns that Bridgette is the reason the stalker pursued Maria he does not let Bridgette throw a tantrum then forgive her. He makes it known she's crossed a line, and if she doesn't find herself back on it, she'll be the one at the tail end of his gun, not that stalker. In this scene Thomas breaks Bridgette's delusions by making it clear that he is not someone to be fond over and obtained. He and Maria are people with lives outside of playing the school hierarchy game Bridgette has concocted in all her years of turning the school into her consequence free paradise. He puts his foot down, something no one has ever done to Bridgette, and teaches her that their are worse things than petty popularity contest outside those school walls. And, if she doesn't sort herself out she's gonna step on the wrong peoples shoes. These warns strike a fear in Bridgette she's never felt before, but also slams her into denial. Thomas leaves her to think about what she did, and when a day or two passes of Thomas completely ignoring her. She lets out her confused emotions on Maria right before the school play when the two girls are alone. This is were her abandonment issues from the fanfic that I haven't mentioned come into play. It's Bridgette being ignored by the one guy she believed could replace her dad that triggers her fear of abandonment leading to her breaking down in front of Maria. She leaves the play before Maria can say anything, but the two meet a week into the new summer, and Maria confronts Bridgette. In the MnT canon Bridgette has her outburst in front of Maria & Thomas before being forgiven and giving up peaceful, for some reason happy with herself despite learning nothing as she's faced only the miniscule consequence of not getting the guy she likes and having to settle for Maria's cousin Xavier. In my headcanon, Maria is the one who confronts Bridgette who is still hurting from what happened with Thomas. Maria takes Bridgette and Thomas somewhere they can talk despite Thomas' disinterest in the idea. There Maria makes it clear what Bridgette did-both the rumor and stalker-were beyond horrible, but she can see Bridgette is also hurting. At this point Maria & Thomas are together, and Maria tells Bridgette that she will try to forgive Bridgette, if Bridgette promises to admit to spreading rumors about people, and apologizes to her victims directly. Bridgette accepts hesitantly and is helped by Maria to make a change. The two eventually develop a friendship after Bridgette starts getting therapy again, and Thomas does eventually stop ignoring Bridgette. In my headcanon, Xavier never had feelings for Bridgette. Because, yes Bridgette is a redeemable character, but not enough that I or anyone should want to see her related to Maria. In summary, these are my thoughts on the character Bridgette and the general storyline she is involved in. If I ever post a complete story about this exact topic I will let you know. I want to make it clear I do not harbor any ill-will towards the creator of Bridgette or the creators of Maria & Thomas. I just don't enjoy their story telling or how they portray these characters on most occasions. If you yourself have any thoughts on my changes or have an idea of a change you would add, let me know. If you want to read or see any art involving these character's check out their respective creators DeviantArt. More post about critics for the MnT Universe will be coming out soon. *Disclaimer: While I have made changes ranging from small tweaks to drastic alterations to many of the pre-existing characters on this post, I remind you that I DO NOT own any of the characters. Though I also remind you that I have made changes to these characters as to fit my own personnel headcanons or stories. So, do not assume that they follow the same timeline or share the same basic information.

#phineas and ferb #pnf #marie and thomas #mnt #next gen #next generation #marie flynn #thomas fletcher #bridgette #headcanons #oc

[allofthefeelings]

I am very interested in yout text post about sharon carter. Interestingly, sharon carter was supposed to be the female lead in winter soldier and had a much larger role in civil war. The directors, however, instead of having two female leads (that is sharon carter and black widow), they sacrificed one to prop up the other. They never were interested to make the female characters shine from the beginning.

Aw, man, anon. I absolutely don’t doubt you on this, but this is my actual least favorite thing: a set-up where fans of women are guaranteed to lose.

(This gets long as hell, and I assume most people aren’t interested in reading me ramble about narrative, so I’m putting it behind a cut.)

I’m not sure where the fact that Sharon was supposed to be the lead in Winter Soldier/much larger role in Civil War came from. I don’t doubt it, but the sources tend to be people who read the comics and know that Sharon’s role in those was larger, and that feels, to me, like an unfair responsibility to put on the films, which in many cases don’t have much at all to do with the comics they got their name from. (And, honestly, aren’t we glad Sharon didn’t get brainwashed, murder Steve, discover she’s pregnant, and then find out he’s not actually dead? Like. That’s a LOT for one movie. And would probably not get Sharon the fans she deserves.)

I actually really like Sharon’s arc in Cap2. It’s one of the few Marvel movies that I think genuinely uses each of its cast members to the best of their potential. Nat, Sam, and Steve have full arcs that tell us a lot about them, but on a smaller scale, so do Nick, Bucky, and Sharon. (I’m on the fence over whether Maria does, or whether her storyline is really just in service of Fury’s, but I’m not going to complain about that.) I’m not rewatching the movie, so apologies if I get this slightly off, but basically: Sharon is introduced first as Steve’s neighbor, and we see through that scene, though we don’t know who it is at the time, that she’s close with her aunt. When Steve’s in danger, Sharon is able to come in and seriously defend him. Steve is offended by her deception when he sees her in the halls (“neighbor”) but she continues her business without taking it personally. When Steve and Nat and Sam come to take back SHIELD, Sharon is our focal character who goes up against Rumlow and puts firepower behind the random tech guy who isn’t willing to target Cap, and it’s not even a question for her; her ideals, which she shares with Steve, are more important than any insult at how Steve treated her. At the end of the movie, Natasha encourages Steve with her, saying she’s nice, and Steve looks like he’s seriously considering it. Natasha has been established as a good judge of character whose trust is hard to gain; her endorsement carries a lot of weight. To me, Cap2 works in the same way Clint’s intro in Thor did (although larger), or Nat’s in IM2 (although smaller): give a hero a mini story in another hero’s narrative, so that we can see what they’re made of.

I don’t think it’s fair to say Sharon was sacrificed to Natasha in that movie, because they both had strong arcs (obviously, one larger than the other), which showed them as heroes in different but complementary ways. Could they have told a different story, which focused on Sharon’s skills rather than Natasha’s? Absolutely, but given they were already introducing a new character in Sam, and an essentially new character in the Winter Soldier- and given that Cap2 came out as ScarJo was achieving new heights of stardom and at the height of the demand for a Black Widow movie they were never going to make- their choice makes sense. I’m just glad they didn’t remove Sharon entirely like they did Clint.

Cap3 is a whole different story. Neither Sharon nor Natasha had a complete story in that movie, but it’s not like one story divided among two characters. They were both there in service of Steve’s storyline without an arc of their own. Sharon’s loss of Peggy wasn’t used as a narrative through-line for her story, any more than Natasha’s desire to keep this fragile family she’d formed whole was. And the fallout from both of their actions, politically and for them as individuals, was completely ignored by the text.

You didn’t say this, but because I’ve seen this discussion before, I need to note that the idea that it somehow reflects badly on Natasha that Sharon didn’t have a bigger role is... troublesome at best. As a fan, I refuse to play Highlander with female characters. No fictional woman stole another fictional woman’s space; people behind the scenes- largely but not exclusively white men- make decisions that make fans of female characters feel like we need to defend one at the expense of others. And I think that at first, they even did right by Sharon, giving her a role that allowed her to be a potential love interest but focused the vast majority of her screentime on her being a hero who embodies the SHIELD that Steve, Fury, and Peggy all supported. It’s not until Cap3 that they really dropped the ball, and while I understand that they could only follow a limited number of characters at a time, it is ridiculous that they didn’t allow any of the women the dignity of a complete arc, even if it would be a secondary or tertiary one.

#allofthereplies #Anonymous #Sharon Carter #Natasha Romanoff #Cap2 spoilers #Cap3 spoilers #long post

[agressivelyunfancynerd]

Roomies; Part 1

Pairings: Steve x Female Reader

Warnings: Fluff, sarcasm, second hand embarrassment, wanting

Word Count: 3,450+

Blurb: Tony fucks up, causing half the tower to relocate – you get to bunk with Steve for a few weeks.

 You were sitting in the dining room, along with a few of the other Avengers. You were all talking and laughing when an explosion on the other side of the tower rattled through the building. You heard people screaming, glass shattering and then everyone was up and running out of the room.

Steve was in the lead, barking to FRIDAY. Before you could hear her reply Tony came over the PA system.

“Before anyone freaks out, I fucked up” he said, the group slowed to a steady walking pace. “All non-essential personnel please exit the building, anyone who currently lives in the tower, can you please meet me in the conference room now.”

You all headed for the conference room. There were already a heap of people in there, talking, yelling and groaning when you and the rest of the team arrived. Tony was standing at the head of the table; Bruce was sitting just beside him.

“Stark, explain!” Steve snarled as he entered the room, people parted like the Red Sea so he could stand and face off with Tony.

“Well, Bruce and I were testing out a new chemical compound and well, things didn’t go so well,” he started, before explaining what the chemical was for, how it was going to be used, and then what had happened and why the explosion occurred. “Now FRIDAY has scanned the building, no one was killed or injured, but –”

“You’re one lucky sonofabitch Stark” Bucky said plonking into a seat and putting his feet up on the table.

“But what, Tony?” Steve said.

“But the structural integrity of part of the building is now compromised. Which means all non-essential personnel will not be permitted back in the building until it’s fixed, all of our accounting, PR and business staff will be working out of our upstate compound and all of the recruits will be going with them, T’Challa, Agent 13 and Maria Hill will go with them to watch them; which leaves you lot, the people who live here, to deal with.”

“Ah, deal with?” Clint asked.

“Okay, so people, if you have other places to go to, apartments you haven’t cancelled the lease on, friends or family to stay with please do, I will pay for an expenses, within reason, to get you there and then to and from work; you can leave now, please” Stark announced. With that most of the people left, leaving only you, a few odd Stark personnel and the Avengers in the room.

“What about us Stark? The ones who have nowhere else to go?” Steve snapped.

“Well, the other side of the building is structurally sound, and since it’s central to the city and the easiest access point to launch missions from, I want you all to stay here, but some of your rooms are where it’s no longer safe, so you’re going to have to bunk with each other.” Stark said. To your surprise no one really groaned or complained, most of them just looking around at who they might want to bunk with.

“So what, we just pick a person and –” Scott started to ask. Tony held up a hat full of paper.

“Nope, I’ve written all the names of the people, whose rooms are safe, so now if everyone who has a room on the east side of the building would please step forward and pick a name out of the hat, I did it this way, so no way can bitch they were left out, now we can get this over with” Stark said.

Nat went first, she got Wanda.

Bucky was next, he was with Sam.

“NOPE! I want to pick again!” he groaned.

“No take backs Barnes, NEXT!” Tony yelled.

Clint stepped up, he got Bruce.

Scott walked up, he was paired with Vision.

“Oh yes! The creepy fortune cookie man!” he announced before walking over to Vision and smiling. “We’re going to have so much fun” Vision just stared at him, before looking back at Tony. You were almost sure you saw him grimace.  

Peter went then, he got Thor. He looked a little frightened, but excited.

“I get to bunk with the boy spider?! Marvellous!” Thor announced before taking Peter into a headlock and ruffling his small curls. Everyone giggled. You never realised how small Peter was, he but next to the Thunder God, he looked like a baby.

“That just leaves Y/N, meet your new roomie” Stark said pointing to Steve, you smiled. But Steve just turned away from you. “Okay, so you all have a few hours to get your essentials out of your rooms and into your temporary living spaces, the rest I will need you to box up and label, so that they can be moved to storage – oh, and did I mention, building will take a few weeks to renovate, but I’ll help speed it up as much as possible.” Stark said, before exiting the room.

Everyone shuffled out after him, in their pairs talking and walking to their rooms. Steve didn’t even look at you before chasing Tony down and having what looked like a heated conversation.

You had been with the team for a year now, and in that time you’d become pretty good friends with most of them, Nat and Wanda were your girls, you loved them to pieces, it was only Steve who you didn’t have a good relationship with, he was you leader, and that was about it. Despite his frosty nature towards you, you still had a giant crush on him and were absolutely freaking out about being in his room.

You walked towards your room to start packing. Palms sweating at the thought of being that close to Steve for that long. About sharing a room, a bathroom, potentially seeing him almost naked. You could feel the heat in your cheeks. You didn’t even know if you’d survive the few weeks of renovations.

***  

You’d packed two big bags, clothes, shoes, toiletries and a few personal things, like books, your sketch pad and pencils, you didn’t want to invade Steve’s personal space too much and annoy him, but you didn’t want to have nothing to do either. After your bags were done and out of the way you started boxing up your other stuff, books, paintings, pictures, decorations.

“Need any help Y/N?” It was Steve; he was leaning in your door frame.

“Nope, I am onto the last box, Stark said we could just leave them in our rooms in a stack with our names and he’d have them moved.” You said not daring to look up at him.

“These your bags for my room?” he stepped inside, motioning towards the bed. You just nodded. He grabbed them and slung one over his shoulder and started carrying the other. You had just taped your box closed and jumped up grabbing his wrist.

“I can carry my own bag” you said, you didn’t want him to feel used. He just smiled.

“It’s okay, you pack pretty light; I think I can manage” he winked and turned back, walking towards his room. You nearly fell over.

When you arrived at his room, he pushed the door open and let you in first. His room was immaculate, clean and very minimalist.

His room was various shades of grey, with wood, glass and metal furniture. His bed was huge; with a beautiful wooden frame and it sat right under the massive loft window in the middle of the wall. He had sheer curtains, so the light still came in, but not as much.

To the left of the room you saw the entryway to the bathroom, and just beside it, a closed door which you assumed was his walk in closet. To the right of the room, you saw his metal and glass desk, a laptop closed on the top, a small potted plant to the side and a lamp on the other side. Just above the desk, and spanning from one wall to the other across, was shelving holding all his books.  And then nestled right in the far back corner between his bed, the wall and his desk was a beautiful high back leather reading chair, the kind you might find in an old library, or the Queen’s sitting room.

But other than that, he didn’t have much in the way of personal touches; it was a stark contrast to your room, which had colourful walls, potted plants, throw cushions, a nice rug on the wooden floors and a blanket over the bottom corner of your bed.

Steve’s room was very sterile.

“Well, this is it” he announced, squeezing past you and putting your bags on the end of his bed. You stepped a little further in, and Steve walked towards the closet.

“So, I cleared my stuff to one end, so you can hang your stuff here” he motioned to the hangers on the poll, then he pulled out the top two draws, “and I emptied these two for you as well” he turned back to you and smiled.

“You didn’t have to do that, I could’ve just left my stuff in my suitcase and put it under the bed or something out of the way.” You said.

“Nonsense, we don’t know how long this will take Stark, so until then, you have some semblance of normalcy” after that he walked towards the bathroom, and grabbed two towels, one was massive and the other was a little smaller. “I figured one for you and I’ve seen you put one around your hair when you’re drying it, so –” he held out the two towels.

“Thank you Steve, that’s very thoughtful, I didn’t even think to pack towels” you said, grabbing your bag and moving it to the floor next to the closet.

***

After Steve had given you the tour of his room, which was easily five times the size of yours, he left you alone to unpack, you refolded all your clothes neatly and stuck them in the draws, hung your stealth suit, jacket and a few other things, and you put all your shoes in a neat row underneath.

Next you move your toiletries and makeup bags to the bathroom; Steve had even cleared out a space on his wire hanging basket for you to put your stuff. You tried not to take over too much and left as much of your stuff jammed up in the corner.

That meant the only things in your suitcase were your few books and sketch pad and pencils, which could stay there. So you pushed it neatly under Steve’s bed.

You didn’t know what to do now that you were done unpacking; before you could do anything though Steve was back. He had a mattress and he was fighting to get it in the door. You grabbed the other end and helped him.

“Okay, so you can have the bed, and I’ll set this bad boy up over there near the arm chair, so it’s out of the way” he said. He put it on the floor, neatly out of the way of everything and then he threw a stack of fresh clean sheets on it.

“What?” you gaped at him. “No!” He looked up at you startled by the yelling. “I am not taking your bed Steve, it’s still your room, I am the guest, I will take the floor” you snatched the sheets out of his hands.

“No, I am the gentleman; I’ll sleep on the floor!” He went to grab the sheets back and you just turned away.

“Nu-uh” you poked your tongue at him.  

“Yeah huh!” he leant around you to grab the sheets again.

“Nope” you dodged.

“Yes!”

The two of you kept fighting over the sheets, pushing, shoving, laughing and just generally acting like five year olds. Steve grabbed you around the waist and hoisted you up, you let out a small yelp and then he threw you onto the bed. You bounced a few time, giggling like an idiot.

“Told ya I’d win doll face” he smirked, taking the sheets and making the bed. Once he was done, he plonked down onto it. “And now I’ve sat on it, it’s mine.” And with that you smacked him in the face with a pillow; he made am oomph sound before snatching it out of your hand, a playful gleam in his eyes.

This was the most interaction you’d had with Steve since you’d arrived, aside from the few times you sparred. You liked this side of him, and you were pretty sure you were going to fall head over heels in love with him before the renovations were up – and that scared the shit out of you, and excited you all at once.

***

At dinner that night everyone was talking about their new arrangements, everyone seemed fairly happy, except Buck who was sitting in the corner brooding. You went and rested your chin on the top of his head.

“Cheer up duck” you said.

“I hate this” he mumbled, “why couldn’t you get Sam and I have Steve. Can we swap?”

“C’mon Sam can’t be that bad?” you teased.

He just grumbled some more at you. You looked over and saw Steve was watching you, a small smile playing on his lips, until he realised you were watching, he turned away, grabbing a plate of food before coming to sit beside Bucky. Your heart was beating in chest. Was he actually smiling, or did you imagine it?

“So, Sam said he’s really looking forward to bunking with you Buck,” and with that Bucky groaned loudly, almost animalistic, stood up, knocking you backwards a bit and he stomped out of the room. “What? Was it something I said?” Steve looked confused.

“No, he’s just not used to the one being teased, and he doesn’t know how to handle it, and you know how Sam likes to tease him.” you snatched a chip off of Steve’s plate he just looked at you.

After dinner everyone settled in for a movie. And when you looked over Steve was no longer on the couch, he was leaving the room.

You skulked out of the room not long after that, when you get back to his room you heard the water going in the bathroom, you quickly changed into your pyjamas and then climbed into bed on the floor.

The water shut off, the door opened a smidge and steam rolled out. Steve emerged wearing nothing but a thin pair of boxers. He took one look at you and frowned.

“Y/N, what are you doing?” he walked towards you.

“I’m getting ready for bed, why do you ask?” you looked up at him, giving him the most innocent face you could.

“No, I mean, what are you doing on the floor?”

“I am not letting you sleep on the floor Steve, it’s your room!”

“We agreed” he sighed, standing above you. It took all of your will power not to stare at his pants, or rather his package.

“Nope, you just cheated and threw me onto the bed, and not in the fun way” you teased. You didn’t know why, you weren’t normally confident, but something about being alone with Steve made you different. He stood there for a minute, shocked, or shy or both.

“Okay then” he smirked. He grabbed you, and hoisted you up into his arms; you were leaning against his bare chest, arms around his neck. You could feel the heat from his shower, his hard muscles. You almost moaned.

“Don’t you dare” you whispered next to his ear. He smiled. And then threw you onto the bed. Before flopping down onto the floor. “STEEEEEEEVE!” you whined before rolling over to the edge of the bed and pouting at him.

“Oh doll face, pouting doesn’t work with me” and with that he closed his eyes.

***

For the next week, you kept finding different and more creative ways of trying to get the mattress on the floor, but still, one way or another Steve ended up down there and you were in his bed.

You simultaneously loved and hated being in Steve’s bed. It was so comfy, the comfiest thing you’d ever slept on, and it smelled so good, just like him. But you also felt guilty that he was on the floor in his own room, and every morning when he got up he cracked his back and moaned.

***

“Steve” you said against the door between his room and the bathroom, the first morning of week two of room sharing.

“Yeah, Y/N, what is it?”

“I think we sleep together?” you blurted out, before smacking your hands over your mouth. The door swung open abruptly and Steve looked at you puzzled, but something else was just below the surface, desire, lust, you weren’t sure. “I mean, I, uh, um,” you could feel the heat rising up in your cheeks, “why don’t we share the bed? It’s huge, and we can make a pillow wall, so there’s nothing inappropriate and then you wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor and get up stiff and sore each morning…” He looked at you amused.

“Okay” was all he said.

***

The week was then filled with nervous energy, mostly from you. Every time you climbed into bed you were worried you’d say or do something embarrassing, or you’d talk in your sleep or drool, or you’d break the pillow wall and do something inappropriate to Steve and he’d kick you out and tell you to sleep in the living area, but so far nothing had happened.

In fact, you’d never slept so well in your life, having a warm body, particularly Steve’s was reassuring, you felt safe. Saturday rolled around and you told him not to wait up, because you and the girls were going dancing.

You, Nat and Wanda hit the club down the street from the tower; the music was thumping from the minute you walked in. You started off downing shots at the bar, Wanda found a dance partner almost instantly and started grinding and swaying with him, you and Nat though, stood at the bar on the lookout for potentials.

“So, you and Steve?”  Nat asked. You choked on your drink, “come on Y/N, you’re sharing a room with him and NOTHING has happened yet? Girl are you even trying?” Nat signalled for two more shots. You snatched both shots and downed them. Nat smirked.

“I really like him Nat, but I don’t want to ruin it” you confessed.

“I know you like him, I also know he hasn’t been this happy in months, so go get some!” and with that she stood up from her seat, smacked you on the ass and then hit the dance floor with Wanda.

You weren’t sure how long you’d been dancing, how many drinks you’d had or what the time was when the three of you staggered out of the club, all you knew was you felt invincible. And you were going to tell Steve how you felt.

When you got back to the tower, the girls headed off to their room, giggling, before Nat shouted to you.

“YOU GET HIM Y/N!”

You brought your finger to your lips and shushed her loudly. Before walking to Steve’s room. You entered the door as quietly as possible. He sat up a little in bed. Illuminated by the city lights behind the bed.  

“Y/N? Is everything okay? What time is it?” he said sleepy.

“It’s late” you croaked. Before kicking your heels off, and then unzipping your dress and stepping out of it. You were standing in the middle of his room in just a pair of matching panties and a bra.

“Y/N? What are you –” Steve said, more alert now.

“Shhhhh Steve” you walked over to the edge of the bed, and climbed up near his feet, and started crawling up his body. You stopped when you were near his face. His hands went to your hips, lightly touching your skin. You had already soaked your panties at the thought of him, the throbbing between your legs nearly unbearable.

“What are you doing?” he whispered.

“This” you bent down and kissed him, and for a brief second he kissed back, before lightly pushing you back and holding you at arm’s length.

“Y/N, you’re drunk, you don’t want this” he said.

“It’s my birthday, and I do want this Steve, I’ve wanted this for so long” you went to kiss him again and he rolled you over, until he was on top of you. You smiled up at him.

“You’re still drunk Y/N and I won’t take advantage of you.” He said.

“I want you to” you moaned, wrapping your legs around him and rolling your hips. “I want you to –”

And then you passed out.

***

#reader x steve rogers #steve rogers #steve x reader #reader x captain america #captain america #fluff #roommates #second hand embarrassment #mentions of other avengers #natasha romanoff #wanda maximoff #almost smut

[sucaritra]

Bāṛi - Chapter 12

Word Count: 1671

Warnings: language, anxiety, Negan

Summary: reader makes a new friend

A/N: comments are greatly appreciated!

Masterlist

“Who's that?”

“You've not seen Mason before?”

You narrow your eyes and try to recall if you’d come across the man who just entered the games room with Simon, exuding authority and power on par with Negan and Simon. You've been at the Sanctuary long enough now to know everyone’s faces, if not their names, and Mason’s was definitely a face you haven't come across.

“Nope. Who is he? Looks important.”

You turn your attention back to Sam as she takes a swig of something that was most definitely homebrewed, given the smell. You wrinkle your nose in disgust when she offers you a sip, causing her to chuckle at your actions.

“He's one of Negan’s top guys, probably ranks after Simon.”

“How come I’ve never seen him?”

“I think he's been taking charge of the outposts. You probably just missed him when you got here. No idea why he's back now though.”

“Huh.”

“You know, he hasn't actually been here that long, compared to everyone else. Got here just a few months before you.”

This brought your attention back to Mason. How does one rise to the top so quickly? You voiced your wonder to Sam, who didn't disappoint.

“Well, he's just an all around good guy. Does whatever he's told, doesn't cause any problems.”

“You can say that about a lot of the Saviors though.”

“True, but no one shed blood they way he did. I don't know exactly what happened, but the gist of it is that there was an incident on the drive back from a pickup. Negan was there, I think they were attacked. Well, anyway, Mason basically took a bullet for Negan, and you know how Negan loves a good soldier. From then on, Mason was given more responsibility and I guess Negan trusts him since he's part of the inner circle.”

“Wow.”

Looking back at Mason, you see he's already looking your way. All it took was a wink from him before you quickly averted your gaze away from him, cheeks flaming in embarrassment at being caught looking.

You had the pleasure of meeting Mason up close and personal the next morning when you smacked into him just as you reached the top floor in your rush to not be late. With reflexes quick as lightning, he grabbed hold of your arms so you didn't take a potentially lethal tumble down the flights of stairs.

Would you ever go a day without embarrassing the shit out of yourself?

Smiling apologetically, you squeak out an apology and thank you, though he laughs it off.

“Don't you worry about it honey, it’s forgiven since it looks as though you’re runnin’ late for work?”

“I am, but that’s no excuse for not watching where I was going, again, I’m sorry.”

And you really were. If it were anyone else, you probably would have winded them from the force of your little collision, but Mason was no ordinary man. If you had no idea about Negan, it would have been very easy to believe Mason was the one running the show. He definitely looked the part with his strong build, self-confidence oozing out of every pore and his dominant personality. Though he looked to be in his late thirties/early forties, it certainly didn't take away from his good looks as his striking green eyes and mousy brown hair gave him a certain charm.

“No more of that, it’s forgiven and forgotten!” The laugh lines around his mouth and creases in the corner of his eyes were so infectious that you found yourself smiling along with him. Thinking that was the end of it, you slowly edge around him to continue your way towards the office, only to be stopped by a gentle hand on your arm.

“Listen, before you dash off, I gotta say somethin’. I heard about what happened with that scumbag Roy.”

You tense up immediately, all traces of the smile gone from your face as you recall your encounter with him and the subsequent punishment, thanks to your tattling. Though his warm smile does help to ease your guilt, if only slightly.

“I just wanted to let you know that he’ll be out of the infirmary in the next couple of days, but you have nothing to worry about. We’re gonna make sure he can't get near anyone again and try and pull another stunt like that. Hell, even if I gotta shadow him 24/7, then that's what I’m gonna do.” Your chest warms at his cheeky smile and wink sent your way, causing you to roll your eyes and huff out a laugh.

“Thank you, I appreciate that but as long as I don’t have to see him again, then I’m sweet.”

“That you are, honey.”

Does the Sanctuary have a siren call drawing all these hot as shit men to it that you don't know about?!

One at a time Maria. If James turns out to be a dud then you can have a go at sinking your claws into this hunk.

Doing your best to appear cool, you quickly bid goodbye before making your escape to the office. Although, you wouldn't be you if you didn't bump your shoulder into the door to the hallway during your escape, earning a hearty chuckle from Captain Green-Eyes.

The buzz of activity seems to never end at the Sanctuary and the first chills of the changing seasons is felt in every corner. Thanks to your tardiness, Negan sent you out into the chaos to seek out the Savior team leaders and hand out rotas for their shifts. Negan has had to move quite a few Saviors to outposts just to make room for all the new survivors that keep turning up on an almost weekly basis, causing a shake up of the Savior's different roles. Saviors with more menial jobs are suddenly finding themselves guarding the weapons stash or patrolling alongside the more trusted Saviors.

All in all, it just meant more paperwork for you.

Venturing outside to try and find Arat to hand over her papers, you pull your jacket closer to your body in a vain attempt to retain some heat. The slight nudge against your rib comforted you as you felt your knife in your inside pocket. After the incident with Roy, Negan let you hold on to it when you tried to hand it back after the Alexandria trip, saying you can keep it as long as you continue being a “good girl”. Pfft. Smug git.

You watch as a couple of trucks pile in through the gates and various Saviors emerge and immediately begin to unload the supplies. Catching sight of James, you quickly make your way over. It feels like you never see him anymore, which is a damn shame since you wouldn't mind looking at nothing but him for the rest of your, probably short, life.

His face lights up as soon as he spots you, grinning from ear to ear as he holds out his arms to you. You happily oblige, wrapping your arms around him as he playfully lifts you off the ground. He catches you by surprise when you feel him place a light kiss to the side of your head before placing you back on your feet.

Trying not to let the red takeover your face, you look up at him and lightly punch his arm.

“Where've you been?! I feel like I never see you anymore.” Your bottom lip juts out slightly, genuinely disappointed at how little time you've spent together. James was probably the first real friend you'd made at the Sanctuary, inadvertently making him your source of comfort. And after the events of the last week, you could do with a bit of comfort, and just simply forgetting about all the bad that had taken place.

“I know, I know. It’s only temporary though! Once we’re good for winter, I’ll be stationed back at the Sanctuary like I used to be. Then you won't be able to wait to get rid of me.”

Just as you were about to reply, you caught sight of Arat talking to Mason by the front gates, before starting to walk around the building, heading towards the gardens.

“Oh! I have to go! I've got something for Arat.” you flash James the papers in your hands, “Can we meet up later?”

“I’ll do you one better. I just need ten minutes to help with unloading and then you wanna get lunch?”

You beamed at him before nodding your okay and dashing off after Arat. You learned early on that Arat was a woman of few words, or, at least, she was with you, which you were always grateful for as it meant you didn't have to attempt any awkward small talk.

Since you didn't have long to wait, you decided to wait for James by the front entrance, plopping down on one of the many picnic tables scattered about. Mason soon joined you, striking up a conversation so easily with you that you almost forgot how terrible you are when it comes to talking with other people.

You found yourself enjoying being in his company, and also completely agreeing with Sam’s description of him, “he’s just a good guy.” And he truly was. In the short ten minutes you were talking, Mason managed to get out of you how you were feeling slightly guilty about how things went down with Roy, even though you knew you shouldn't. You were almost glowing in self-assurance after his little speech about how you did the right thing and how, through your actions, Roy won't be able to try anything with any woman here anymore. You were almost sad to cut you talk short; it was doing wonders for your self-esteem.

Walking side by side with James to the canteen, you couldn't help but grin as he oh-so-casually took hold of your hand, gripping it tight and pulling you close as you made your way through the Sanctuary.

tagging: @neganisking @backseat-negan

#negan #negan x reader #negan x you #negan fanfiction #twd fanfiction #jdm #jdm fanfiction #jeffrey dean morgan