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dontask-idkeither · 1 year

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Hold me by the heart

Shuri x Black!Fem!Reader

Word count: 1.4k

Summary: When Shuri is at her absolute worst, you were always right there to hold her and comfort her.

Translation: Ungubani -> Who are you?

Note: T’Challa is very heavily involved here and the overall all fic is pretty sad. This also heavy with grief and has a major Wakanda Forever spoiler, just in case you haven’t watched the movie yet.

Y/F/N means your father’s name, I couldn’t really think of a name to put for that so

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2016

Being an war-dog stationed in Austria was not how you expected to be spending your 18th and 19th years of life. After a year in the Austria, you missed everything about home. The air, the water, the people, the food, your culture, your family, your girlfriend. You were sat on the couch in the apartment that had been given to you, clicking through tv stations.

You got to the news to see that the Vienna International Center had been bombed. You sat up as you listened to the headline. When the broadcaster said that King T’Chaka of Wakanda had been assassinated, your heart stopped.

Images of the building on fire, smoke clouds darkening the sky, flashed on your screen. But they didn’t register. The only thing flooding your mind was that your King was dead. Your countries ruler was gone.

And then your mind drifted to your girlfriend, the princess of Wakanda, Shuri. You hadn’t noticed your tears until heavy knocks came to your door. You wiped the tears and looked through the peephole.

There you saw two members of the Dora Milaje at his side. You immediately opened the door and they glided in.

“Ungubani” “Y/N, daughter of Y/F/N” You pulled your bottom lip down to show your war-dog tattoo to the Dora.

T’Challa walked into the apartment. You didn’t look at him for very long, as you lightly bowed your head, but the devastation was clear as day.

“My Prince.” You said as you bowed lightly. You knew very well you weren’t required to do this, it was more so to please the Dora than because of a distant relationship.

T’Challa just pulled you into a hug which you returned instantly. You stayed there for some time, trying to comfort the man you had known as an older brother for years.

He pulled away but left a hand on your shoulder “It’s time for you to come home.” You nodded and you knew the implications behind it.

You knew T’Challa wouldn’t be returning home for long, he was telling you so you could be there for Shuri.

You packed away your things as fast as possible and hurried to the Royal Talon Fighter. The flight was spent mostly in silence, you leaning on T’Challa’s shoulder as a form of comfort. He greatly appreciated it.

When you landed, you were overcome with nerves. You hadn’t been home in a year and the first time you return, is because the man you viewed as a second father was now with the ancestors.

You stood at the top of the stairs and almost went into a panic. T’Challa’s hand squeezed your shoulder in encouragement, you took a deep breath and descended down the stairs.

You saw your girlfriend and her mother standing side by side in front of the palace. Her red, teary eyes lit up when she saw you. She waited until you were some feet away from the plane before she ran into your arms.

You welcomed her and held the back of her head. The world didn’t matter as you held her, all you wanted was to ease her pain. “Thank you for coming.” She said through her tears.

“Shh, no need to thank me.” You pulled away to hold her face, her hands held your wrists. “I will always be here for you.”

2018

N’Jadaka had killed T’Challa. Right in front of your eyes. Your body and mind had gone numb. You sat in one of Wakanda’s lush forests, and for the first time the scenery of Wakanda didn’t have any effect on your sour mood.

Your heartbroken girlfriend sat between your legs, holding your knee as she cried. You had one hand massaging her scalp. Her mother sat in front of you, holding her hand and yours.

“First Baba, and now my brother. Mama we didn't even get to bury him.” You shushed her. Ramonda wiped her tears.

You wished you could be of more comfort for her, but your own pain was rendering you silent.

In a way though, the severity of your own emotion helped Shuri understand that she was not alone in this. She wouldn’t be missing her brother alone. She had her mother, and she had you.

2024

Shuri had been working around her lab trying to find a cure for her brother. You had gone some time before to say your goodbyes to T’Challa in the event he didn’t make it.

You told him how much he meant to you, as a brother, a friend, and as an overall inspiration. You told him that if he didn’t have any fight left in him, that it was ok. That you would take care of his beloved mother and baby sister, that you would protect them with your life. You told him that you would dedicate your life to protecting his honor and his memory, and to making him proud.

With a final squeeze of his hand, you left the room he was in and ran back to the lab. Over the years, Shuri had taught you a lot about technology and you were ready to offer your help in any way you could.

When you got to the lab, people were rushing out. You walked in confused. You saw Shuri standing alone at one of her tables. You walked over to her and before you could say anything, you saw Ramonda walk in.

You felt nauseous because you knew what this meant. You tried to hold it back, but a sob ripped through your chest and you turned away.

“Griot, whats my brothers heart rate?” Shuri asked, voice thick with fear.

“Your brother, is with the ancestors.”

Shuri slowly walked backwards, all the emotion hitting at once. She only heard a faint ringing in her ears and her head felt as if it would explode. Before she fell to the floor in complete agony, your arms wrapped around her weak body.

You eased her way to the floor and she held your biceps tight as she loudly cried. Seeing her in this much pain only worsened your own, you threw your head back as to not see the hurt. You bit your lip so hard you tasted hints of blood. Ramonda slowly walked over to her grieving girls.

The funeral

You still did not feel worthy to walk alongside the Royal Family through this. Despite all the assurances by Ramonda that you belonged there, and Shuri saying how badly you were needed, you still felt unworthy.

You swallowed those insecurities and walked with your head high, but face riddled with exhaustion and all the overall grief you were facing.

T’Challa’s coffin was placed on the ground and before it was lifted, Shuri placed her body over it. Ramonda went to pull her back, but you lightly put your arm in front of her. She looked at you with confusion but you knew Shuri needed this moment.

She didn’t get to properly say goodbye to her own brother, this was her own way of doing that now. After some time, you moved your arm and nodded. Ramonda lightly pulled a broken Shuri from her brother’s coffin and back to her feet.

Shuri placed her face in your neck and you placed your hand on the back of her head.

2025

After the passing of King T’Chaka, you never thought you would leave Wakanda again. Now after losing T’Challa and Ramonda, and all the death you saw in your country, you couldn’t bear to be there. You needed to be far, in order to heal.

That is how you ended up with Shuri in Haiti. You had burned your funeral garments together on the beach and began to heal together.

Right now you sat in your room, writing in your journal. Writing out every thought and feeling you had throughout the day. Shuri had gone for a walk, she felt she needed to be alone with her thoughts.

You had no clue how long you had been writing when the door to your room creaked open. You looked up with a smile to see your lover, but your smile fell when you saw the state she was in.

Her thoughts had clearly taken her down a dark path. She stood in the doorway pulling at her sleeve as she cried. You almost jumped from your chair to hold her.

She kept her arms where they were but she just cried even harder when you held her. “I’m here love. I’m here.”

To that she pulled you in even closer. “Make it stop…” she begged to no one in particular. Your heart broke even further.

You wished you could. You wished you could take all her pain away. Wished you could take all for yourself. But you couldn’t.

What you could and would do, is hold her. Hold her through it all just as you had always done.

394 notes · View notes

mirkwoodshewolf · 3 years

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Panther Princess; T’Challa x child reader

*Author’s note*

Well this was a LONG time in the making, not only cause of motivation and time schedule wise but I wanted to make sure I GOT THIS FIC RIGHT since this is my first time writing for T'Challa since Chadwick's death last year (MAY HE RIP OUR KING!!!). Hope you guys enjoy this, and I’ve decided that after a few Wattpad requests I’ll open requests up here on Tumblr but there will be some MAJOR adjustments to what fandoms I’ll do. For now just be patient with me and eventually I will open requests here on Tumblr, I just don’t want to be overwhelmed.

Warnings: Malnourishment. abuse, terrorists involved (no action but just the word), some fluff.

Taglist:

@plethora-of-things

@waddles03

@psychosupernatural

@ixchel-9275

@soy-guey

@queen-paladin

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels

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It was in the dead of night when T’Challa received word about some smugglers were traveling with some stolen Vibranium, and word has it that they were working for Klaue. Even though he had been dead, Klaue’s business was still running and forging deals with terrorists groups and anti-government parties.

Him and Okoye were flying over towards the drop-off point where the dealers were gonna be exchanging their latest steal of Vibranium.

“The dealers that Klaus’ second Lt. Rosko Lannister is selling the Vibranium to come from an Iranian terrorist group.”

“As usual we will let them make their business transaction before taking any further action. After dealing with the terrorist group and Lannister is ours, he will be put under the same crimes as we would’ve given Klaue.” T’Challa told Okoye. She nodded as the jet continued to fly towards their destination.

It was just before sunset when at an old, abandoned warehouse Rosko Lannister and some of Klaue’s old men waited for their clients to arrive. Soon enough driving in the black SUV’s and Honda trucks, the Iranian terrorist group came out of their cars. Most of them were soldiers holding their AK-47’s close to their chest while out of the head van, 3 men dressed in full 3 piece suits exited the car.

They looked exactly alike for these three men were actually brothers. Two of them were twins and the other was a year younger than his older twin brothers. Hasim, Sami, and Achmed Israeli were the three leaders of the biggest terrorist group in the world. There was even record shown that they made deals with HYDRA back in the day. Mostly smuggled weapons and potential serums for super soldiers.

After the fall back in 2014 when both SHIELD and HYDRA were exposed, the brothers decided to go underground and disappear under the radar. The US and European governments have been trying to find them ever since but they are too clever and can easily cover their tracks both physically and wirelessly.

“The Israeli brothers. I can’t tell you how honored I am to be doing business with you.” Rosko praised.

“We didn’t come for praises. We came for the Vibranium. Do you have it?” the oldest twin brother Sami demanded.

“Getting down to business. That was one thing my former associate Klaue always appreciated. God rest his soul.” Rosko kissed his finger before raising them upward. “Nah I’m just kidding he was an arsehole, I’m actually glad he’s dead.” He changed his tune.

“The Vibranium. Do you have it or not!?” demanded the younger twin Hasim.

“Patience Hasim. Let the white man talk.” Sami eased his brother. Rosko turned to one of his guys and nodded. His left hand man let out a whistle and soon two men come carrying in a large box that was filled with the stolen Vibranium that Klaue had stowed away for himself.

The men set it down before the brothers and Achmed opened the case up to reveal the Vibranium they were looking for. A small smirk came across Sami’s face and he said.

“Excellent. The most powerful material in the universe.”

“It did come at personal cost from Klaue, better him than me. It’s worth billions. Hope you also kept your end of the deal. This transaction is only fair if both parties agree.” Hasim smirked cunningly and turned to his general.

He nodded and exclaimed in Muslim and before Rosko even knew it. Every single one of his men was shot dead by the Israeli brother’s soldiers, leaving only him alive.

Every gun was now turned on him and Rosko had no choice but to raise his hands slowly.

“True. But when dealing with terrorists you should’ve also realized that there is a price to pay. Especially if you’ve been followed.” Sami said. At this point Rosko was confused.

“What-what-what are you talking about?”

“I’ve been in this game for a long time Mr. Lannister, I’ve seen everything and heard it all. Superheroes, aliens, psychotic androids, even real life wizards. So don’t think for a second that your actions hasn’t risen suspicion to the one who rules the very place where you got this Vibranium from.” Sami closed the case and patted it before his brother Achmed took it and had it put in the truck.

“King T’Challa has no idea of this Vibranium that was stashed away. He’s recovered the traces of Vibranium that Klaue kept public. There’s no way he could know about this.”

“Clearly Klaue had a better game face than you Mr. Lannister. For he wouldn’t have revealed such an important fact to me.” At that moment Rosko knew he had been played by the brothers. Before he knew it, a bullet went straight into his head and he died right there.

“Surround the area. We don’t leave till the King is dead.” Ordered Achmed to his security team. The soldiers exclaimed Arabic commands as they surrounded the warehouse with their guns outward and ready to fire.

One guard in particular heard something move behind him and he quickly turned and fired three shots but didn’t hit anything but some old crates. His paranoia was getting the best of him and that’s what gave him away. He was suddenly grabbed by the back of his robes and lifted up and beaten till he collapsed to the floor unconscious.

2 more guards heard what was going on and went to check on their fallen soldier when a flash of a figure ran behind them. They quickly turned and fired their guns when suddenly T’Challa came down behind them, quickly disarmed them and knocked them unconscious.

As more of the brother’s security came in and they open fired on T’Challa, he merely walked towards the security before sprinting forward and disarming the rest of them. His claws tearing their guns apart, and using his quick ‘cat-like’ agility, he managed to take down the entire fleet.

“Israeli brothers!” he cried out. It was then Sami came out and T’Challa revealed his face to the eldest brother.

“King T’Challa. I must say it is an honor to be in your presence.” Sami mocked.

“Did you really believe we would be unaware of this trade?”

“On the contrary, I expected this all along. It was that witless white monkey Rosko who didn’t expect to see you. But never fear, he’s out of both of our hands.” Sami said nonchalantly as he looked down at his nails.

“If you surrender the stolen Vibranium to me, we can resolve this peacefully. But refuse, and you’ll face justice of Wakanda in Rosko Lannister’s stand. You and your brothers.”

“See my brothers and I made a pact. If we can’t escape the system, we’d be—how you say, judge jury and executioner to ourselves. And rather than rot in a cell separated, we shall join together in a blaze of glory. And we’re not afraid to take you with us, suffering the same fate as your own father did.” Sami raised his arms out like he was flying and waiting for a fiery explosion to happen.

But nothing came.

He opened his eyes to reveal that nothing had happened. It was then coming into the open space were Ayo and Okoye who had Sami’s younger brothers. Both men were bruised and battered up pretty badly. The two Dora Milaje members dropped his brothers down at his feet like trash and T’Challa said.

“I told you. This could’ve been resolved peacefully. But you forced our hand, especially when you had planned to blow up the place with all of us inside.” Sami growled but nonetheless raised his hands in surrender.

As the Dora Milaje were detaining the three brothers, T’Challa retrieved the stolen Vibranium when he heard something nearby. It sounded like chains, they had defeated all of the security, Rosko and his men were all shot by the Israeli brother’s defense, and the brothers were all detained so who else was here?

“My King?” Okoye asked.

“Stay here Okoye, I want to check something out.” He told his general of the Dora Milaje.

“My king, it could be another threat we do not yet know about. Let me come with you.”

“I’m not defenseless Okoye. Now you and Ayo just put the men on the ship and let me handle this. It could be some animal or the chains fell down off of something.” Okoye nodded to her king and soon T’Challa headed deeper into the warehouse.

As he explored every bit of it, he soon noticed that there appeared to be a hidden door within the walls that was very faintly cracked open. He opened the door and could hear the sound of the chains getting louder and louder.

It was almost like they were—pacing? They kept a constant rhythm as they would move about, in a circle pattern or something close to it. T’Challa slowly walked towards the direction of the chains and soon found what appeared to be a cage. A glass cage but it was inside that surprised the Wakandan King.

Inside the glass was a child. She appeared to be around the ages of 8-11 years old. Her hair was extremely long and madded like a lion’s mane. She looked malnourished so much so that you could almost see her bones. But for being malnourished, how could she have the energy to pace so frantically like she was now? He also noticed that there around her neck, wrists and ankles were chains keeping her inside.

T’Challa slowly walked out of the shadows and into the light where the child would be able to see him. She stopped her pacing and just stared at him curiously. T’Challa disengaged his full Black Panther suit so that he was in his normal clothes.

“I am not here to hurt you.” He gently told the child. The child slightly tilted their head like a lost puppy. “My name is T’Challa, what’s yours?” T’Challa slowly and slowly got closer and closer to her cage as he spoke in that soft voice of his. When she didn’t answer him he assured you, “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I just want to be sure you’re okay.”

Suddenly in the blink of an eye, her (e/c) soon turned to a deep cat eye yellow. Her body shifted into a fairly young but still decent size panther and she lashed out at the cage, knocking T’Challa off his feet in slight fear. The child now standing before him as a full panther clawed and roared at the cage furiously.

“My King!” Ayo’s voice spoke in Xhosa and soon her and Okoye came in and when they saw the panther, they lifted up their spears in defense.

“Stand down!” T’Challa commanded them.

“But my king—this animal is feral. It was going to kill you.” Okoye reasoned with him but T’Challa told her.

“She is a human child. She shifted into this panther before my eyes. Look.” Soon enough the panther shrunk down and soon turned back into the young girl who was still pacing back and forth in her cage.

“What sorcery is this?” asked Ayo.

“Not magic. Science. Look closer at her arms.” T’Challa said. At the section of the arm on the other side of the elbow, they noticed dozens of needle injection scars.

“This child was experimented on.” Okoye said grimly with a horrified expression.

“What do we do my King?” asked Ayo. T’Challa looked at the child who was growling and trying to act scary even though she was no longer a panther anymore.

“We take her to Shuri. Maybe she can shed more light on the matter. Get her to the ship. But approach her cautiously. Don’t make any sudden movements.” Ayo and Okoye bowed their heads to their king and walked towards the cage.

The girl would hit her skeletal body up against the cage trying to rattle it and actually roared out a panther’s real roar, her teeth slowly growing into the large infamous canines of a real big cat. Okoye and Ayo then placed a hover bead on each end of the cage and soon the cage levitated just a few feet off the ground.

The little girl roared and began clawing at the glass but it hardly did anything as she was now being guided towards the ship.

When they reached Wakanda after dealing with the brothers, Shuri in her lab was going over the girl’s intel scan that she made of the girl from her cage with her kimoyo beads.

“So what is it you can find Shuri?” T’Challa said as he entered his sister’s lab.

“This may come as a surprise to you brother. But—she has no birth record at all. I’ve contacted some of my people in various places around the world to see if there has been any missing child and all of them have said no. My theory is that she may have been created from a test tube to look like this.”

“Any idea who could’ve made her?”

“The same organization that made the White Wolf into the Winter Soldier.”

“Hydra.” T’Challa said gravely. Shuri nodded.

“I hacked into their old files and it only confirms my theory. Seems like they wanted to create their own Cat-god or something.”

“Any records on what her powers are? She can shift into a panther but can she also shift into anything else?”

“I’m still digging through the files, there’s a lot of files that came to creating her. It’ll take time brother.” T’Challa nodded in understandment.

“Keep me updated.”

“Yes brother.” T’Challa walked away but he turned back towards the young girl and saw that she had briefly stopped her pacing to look at him once again.

A week later after finding the child, Shuri managed to dig up that HYDRA’s plan for the Child was for her to become their Agent Battle Cat. The ability to shift into a panther. She also has enhanced agility, speed, and strength.

However when HYDRA fell back in 2014, they were forced to abandon the project and she had been left alone in that warehouse ever since. Thinking about the enhancing experiments she must’ve been forced to endure or whatever genes they gave her, it allowed her to survive even being chained up in a cage for years on end until she felt like she needed to give up.

While being kept under his sister’s supervision, T’Challa also made it apparent to try and communicate with the Child, just to see if she could either understand or (in a rare case) speak in any language. The first time he had tried to talk to her well—let’s just say she ended up with broken nails and chipped teeth after trying to take a bite of T’Challa’s forearm when he activated his suit to protect his arm from her attack.

He had finally finished his royal civic duties for the day when he decided to try and talk to the Child again.

“You sure it’s a good idea brother? You did cause her to lose her nails and chipped some of her teeth.”

“I learned my lesson last time. But you weren’t there before that happened. She had actually dropped her guard and almost looked like she wanted to communicate with me. I think I’m getting through to her.”

“Okay brother. But if she attacks you again, I doubt that’ll sit well with Mother as well as Okoye and Ayo.”

“I will handle mama and the Dora Milaje. For now see to it that no one disturbs us.” Shuri nodded and told her workers to go home for now, leaving T’Challa and the Child alone.

T’Challa slowly approached her cage to see her lying down on her side licking her broken nails. Some of them had broken off by the top, while the rest had the entire nail broken leaving a bloody mess in it’s wake. She was currently licking her blood stained fingertips when she caught T’Challa’s scent.

She growled and hissed angrily at him, her canine fangs extended out and her eyes shifted into the cold, yellow panther eyes.

“Steady, steady. I’m not here to hurt you.” T’Challa sat down a few feet away from the cage and continued, “I am sorry for what happened to you. I was only protecting myself from getting hurt. It was my fault for overstepping my boundaries.” Her hissing ceased and she closed her mouth hiding her fangs but she would occasionally growl lowly, her tail coming out and twitching anxiously.

They sat there in silence for a couple of minutes when T’Challa said to her.

“You know, I’ve been thinking of a name for you. You know something to call you. I’m betting the men who created you never really gave you a real human name. What do you think about—Ariana?” the Child hissed. T’Challa chuckled, “Didn’t think so. Shuri said you might like it but now I can prove to her that I was right. Now for the real options, what about…….Nala?” the child tilted her head confused. “No? What about…..Diana?” she looked down and went back to licking her fingertips. “That won’t really help them heal. Sure it’ll clot the blood but it’s not that good for saliva to heal a wound like that.”

She looked up at T’Challa and growled lowly.

“I’m just trying to help. We have the medicine that’ll help you. I won’t lie it might sting for a brief second but it’ll help. Will you trust me with healing you, please?” the child looked between him and her fingers before slowly extending her arms out and she briefly nodded.

T’Challa then got some antiseptic and band-aids. He opened up a small section of the cage, just enough for her arms to come out.

“Thank you for your trust.” He then began to doctor her fingertips. She let out some painful roars on the stubbed fingertips that no longer had a nail anymore but at least this time she didn’t try to attack him like last time. He soothed her with calming phrases like ‘it’s okay. It’s won’t last long.’ And ‘Just relax, it’s almost over.’ After bandaging up her left pinkie finger he told her, “There, I’m done (Y/n).”

At hearing that name, she looked up at T’Challa curiously. Her tail perked up and the tip curled inward. T’Challa looked at her to see her tail fall limp to the cage floor. “(Y/n)?” her tail lifted up again and her head tilted curiously. “So you like that name eh?” She looked at T’Challa and her nose twitched as she was trying to sniff him through the glass.

Taking a risk, he slowly reached his hand into the cage once more like before. However this time he kept his hand in a downward position, so that his hand formed the shape of another cat’s nose. The Child slowly crept towards his hand and gave it a sniff, when she saw that he wasn’t moving his hand, she rubbed her head against his hand for a brief second before nuzzling underneath his palm so that it sat on top of her head.

He gently began scratching her scalp which caused her to let out soft comforting purrs. T’Challa smiled warmly and continued to gently give the child—well (Y/n) some more scritches and pets.

“Don’t you worry (Y/n). I promise I won’t allow anyone else to harm you in any shape or form.”

The next couple of months after getting her body weight back to normal and healing any other wounds she had maintained, T’Challa allowed (Y/n) to venture outside the palace with him. Thinking the city itself was too much for her right now, he decided to take her out to the Border tribe so that she could see the outside world for the first time in her life.

Needless to say she was overwhelmed but she was happy to feel the grass beneath her feet, see the beautiful landscape, and hear all the sounds of the outside world from the animal calls to some of the Border tribe members talking with each other.

“Seems she’s getting along well.” Okoye observed (Y/n) who was cautiously watching the rhinos from their pins.

“Slowly but surely she is. Walking on two feet is still a bit of a challenge but she’ll get there eventually.” T’Challa told her.

“At least she’s learned to not attack you.”

“It was one time Okoye, be nice.”

“As your General it is my duty—”

“I understand your duty General. But you must also know that there will be times you can’t protect me. And this attack was very minor compared to the fights I’ve been in before.” It was then T’Challa saw (Y/n) now focusing her attention on some birds that had just landed a few feet away from the rhino pins. Her panther instincts kicked in as she got into pouncing position, her pupils were fully blown and her shoulder blades flexed over one another as her butt raised higher and higher in the air.

Finally she raced forward and the birds immediately took off flying. She leaped well over 7ft in the air and managed to capture a bird in her claws and delivered a fatal bite. She then raced over to T’Challa and presented him the dead bird.

She placed it on the ground before his feet and backed away before tilting her head with a happy smile on her face.

“Seems she has a gift for you my King.” Okoye said. T’Challa grimaced at the gift but he quickly smiled down at her and knelt down in front of her.

“I appreciate the gift (Y/n). But—we cannot keep this bird kept within a cage. Like how I freed you, we must also allow this bird to move onto the next life.” He dug into the earth for a small shallow grave, just big enough for the bird and he placed the bird into the makeshift grave. He buried it under the earth and he sent a brief prayer to Bast in Wakandan. “Right, now let’s head back to the palace. I have a meeting with M’Baku about reforging our alliance and allowing the Jabari tribe into the council.”

Okoye and T’Challa walked ahead when they heard something behind them. At first they thought it was one of the goats but it sounded to hoarse to be one of them. They slowly turned around and saw (Y/n) with a hand over the grave of the bird and she was saying.

“Ba……Ba.”

“Is she……?” Okoye started.

“Ba.” (Y/n) was trying to talk! She was trying to say the Cat goddess Bast’s name. She managed to get out the first constant and vowel but she couldn’t figure out how to do her S and T.

“Her first time talking. She’s trying to say Bast’s name.” T’Challa knelt down and he asked her, “(Y/n), are you trying to give a prayer to Bast?”

“Ba!” she exclaimed again. T’Challa was overjoyed on the inside that the girl he had decided to take under his wing and raise was finally trying to talk. Many of the tutors he and Shuri had growing up had given up saying that she was incapable of speaking because all she did was just hiss and growl as well as throw things at them before laughing like a deranged hyena.

“Here I’ll help you say her name.” he adjusted himself so that he sat down and he placed his hand right next to hers and he said slowly so that she could see how his lips did it. “Say Bast.”

“Ba.”

“Bast.”

“Ba.” T’Challa shook his head.

“Watch me carefully. Bast.” He enunciated the t at the end. (Y/n) growled lowly before taking a deep inhale and finally exclaiming.

“BAST!”

“Yes. Yes that’s it! You did it (Y/n) great job!” at seeing T’Challa’s excitement, (Y/n) began to repeat Bast’s name gleefully as she pranced around.

“A little cocky there isn’t she?” Okoye muttered.

“Let her have this moment Okoye. Besides probably hunting and killing, this is her first real big achievement. A normal milestone.”

“I suppose so.” She agreed. Even though she might not have wanted to admit it, she thought it was adorable how little (Y/n) was finally able to speak a human language and become so happy with herself that she would prance around like a yearling antelope.

Over the next couple of years, (Y/n) continued to not only advance in her human speaking skills, but she now began to show signs of aging. She went from that small child to now almost a young adult woman in just 2 years since finding her. Seemed with the animal enhancement, it also increased her human aging with each time she grew stronger and tougher.

T’Challa continued to raise her as his own and pretty soon all of Wakanda looked at her as their young Princess. Shuri loved hanging out with (Y/n) and teaching her everything there was to know about science and technology. She even took her as an apprentice in her lab. Okoye eventually came around and soon saw (Y/n) as a member of the royal family and took it upon herself to train her like a Dora Milaje so that she could defend herself without the need of her animal powers.

For she was the Panther Princess.

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peterbparkerth · 3 years

Text

My Experience Shifting to MCU Part 1 it’s really long sorry

Okay the first time I shifted was in January so I will summarise what happened till now.

Steve gives the best piggy backs rides, he’s also gay and loves Bucky but when Bucky and I got together he moved on. Steve is also the one who introduced me to everyone. He makes great pancakes and has the infinity war beard. He’s also very good in training and god his body 😏

Tony on the other hand loves Peter like his own son 🥺🥺. I annoy him a lot by either stealing his suits or by pranking him with Loki. He is exactly like what you think he would be but he is also hella caring

Natasha is so scary at first but I made her get used to me and my pranks and stuff, she has so much love for Bruce and vice versa. She also becomes my training partner when Steve isn’t around. And she gives best life advice. Also her combat skills 😍

Bruce Banner is always at the lab and if not then he is fonduing with Nat 👀. And if that’s not the case he’s helping Tony and Peter. I haven’t interacted with him that much.

Peter Parker! This boy is so not what y’all think (well maybe in only in my DR he is like this). He is so kinky and naughty, boi I don’t know how can he be so innocent around others. Yes he and I dated at one point, but we broke up cause of some drama(he hugged MJ the way he hugs me and wouldn’t apologise to me), he is so caring and possessive like boi he won’t leave you alone at all and boy cuddles and kisses with him🥺🥺 i fondued with him first 😏. He also did some dances with Scott Lang and Peter quill 😭(if you want the whole relationship story of Parker and I let me know, it’s kinda adorable and kinda naughty) he still loves me and I do too but

I’m dating Bucky Barnes now 😏 okay so this dude was in love with me way before Peter and I dated and he had kissed me when the rest of the avengers and I played truth and dare, he made Peter so angry that Peter fondued with me😏. Oh god and his hands 🥺. (Now I will type down how Bucky and I got together and what are relationship is like now).

Okay so we got together when Bucky was sitting with Sam and I came up to Bucky with sad face since Peter broke up with me and I hugged Bucky and told him everything that happened And buck was like “be with me if I make you feel happy” so I kissed him And then we got together .so when I shifted again I walked out of my room and Bucky was like “doll I have been searching for you everywhere I thought something happened to you” and he looked at me like 🥺.I gave him a kiss and he was like “oof! Doll I have missed that”🙈.Bucky and I also 👉🏻👌🏻we went on a mission and I was partnered with Nat and when we came back I went to injured Bucky and tried to give him aid and I took him to my room and while I was aiding him he looked at me and leaned in and gave me such a passionate kiss 🥺🥺🥺.So I sat on his lap and said “I’m ready to give you my heart” .And he looked at me like “Are you sure sweet cheeks?” And I nodded so he then placed me on the bed and locked the door.And then he took of his shirt, left the metal arm on since I told him to.And then he got next to me and then slowly took of my clothes.He then laid me under him and kissed me first then my neck.And then went down on me first.He was so careful not to hurt me. Omg when I told him I love him 😭.He looked like a lost kitten that just found his home.Anyway the day after I and Bucky had fondued I woke up and made him breakfast only to have him hug me from behind and hum a song in my ear I was like “Bucky what are you doing” and he said “serenading my girl” and Wanda coughed and we turned around to see everyone look at us and Peter looked so heartbroken that he pulled me in to a room .And tbh he said “so you’re with Bucky now? The same one I told you to say away..” he said some other rude stuff (Peter was heart broken) making me cry so Bucky came and stood in front of Peter and said “if you make my girl cry ever again, I swear I’ll take her to another apartment building and marry her right in front of you making you hate yourself for eternity” and I looked at him like 🥵👀.Bucky and I kiss all the time making Tony say “stop snogging each other and listen to the mission updates”.Once John called me to meet him alone in a place so I went and I didn’t know Bucky was following me secretly so when I got there John Walker kissed me after a while of talking and Bucky was like “so you came here for kissing another guy” and I looked at him and kept repeating the truth and Bucky said “he knows the truth” and he starts beating up Walker .While he was beating up John I got kidnapped by hydra and when Bucky heard me screaming he ran towards the vehicle I was in but he was too late.I was taken to hydra’s secret place and tortured there and when the avengers came to find me Peter found me first and was like “what the hell darling, you’re okay I’m here, everyone’s here for you” and took me out of constrains only to get kissed by me just then Bucky saw me and looked so heart broken but I ran to him to tell him that I choose him but he said that till he doesn’t sort out this hydra situation he has to go away. And I looked at him like “ I want to come with you”.I said “don’t break my heart like Peter did, I don’t know why I kissed him, I just want to be with you, you make me so happy and so loved, please don’t break up with me, with you i feel alive” and I cried as I said this,He pushed me against the wall and said that he will never break up with me but He need to make sure I’m giving this relationship my everything and I looked at him and kissed him with so much love and passion that showing him how vulnerable I am with him .The way he looked at me when I got really vulnerable with him and the way his held my cheek with his real hand as I did him 🥺 The way he said “I would do anything for you doll” 😭 (these things happened just recently so I will keep you guys updated if you want me to)

Wanda Maximoff and Vision along with Tommy and Billy. Yes they all are alive and together in my DR!. Wanda is so sweet and just a momma bear🥺 she is the first one to know about the drama and tea that happens to me and I’m like her younger sister 😭. She is such a great wife and mother and I’m so proud of her she treats everyone with yummy food every lunch time. Vision on the other hand is annoying af because he keeps asking me if I fondued with Peter or Bucky so I warn Wanda to tell him to shut up about it. Their kids play with me and Pietro so much

Pietro Maximoff is such a flirt but he doesn’t go that far because I tell Wanda to keep him in check as well, he’s also really fast obviously and boi training with him is fun and how he and I along with Loki prank Bucky 😂😂😂😂. Boi I need to spend more time with him too

Loki is my homie, my best friend and my partner in crime!. He took to me Asgard and the way I greeted Odin made Loki laugh so bad 😂. He gives me the best prank ideas and also always tried to keep me away from Peter and Bucky at first. He also always get thrown away by Tony I have no idea why but Thor brings him back to the compound. He’s so caring towards me and tbh I tried kissing him once he said “no thanks, I’d rather kiss a corpse” 👁👄👁.

Thor is exactly like that in the gif, goofy and so hilarious like oh god if humor was a person Thor would be it. He is soft and makes great pop tarts which I steal because why not 🤷🏻‍♀️. Thor trains with Loki and Wanda since Clint is not around cuz clints on fam duty vision is partnered with Tony and Peter. I can lift his hammer which pissed him off so much that he broke the lounge table 👀

Sam Wilson the only time I interacted with Sam a lot was when Bucky and I had to go to hydra facility and he was fun to be around. When I’m cuddling with Bucky or sitting on his lap Sam teases us so much that I tell him stfu 😂

T’Challa ,Shuri, Scott Lang and Peter quill have visited only once so I haven’t spend time with them I only remember t’challa and shuri bringing biscuits and Scott Lang being all so adorable and giving me a piggyback ride, quill accidentally shot me with his gun so yeah he isn’t allowed anymore. Strange hasn’t made any entrance yet but I’m thinking about bringing him to my DR

I have erased some explicit details if you want them DM me cuz i don’t want to scar anyone young here

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avengerscompound · 3 years

Text

Moving On - Chapter 4

Moving On: A Falcon & Captain Marvel Fanfic

Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing: Sam Wilson x F!Reader, Carol Danvers x F! Reader

Word Count: 2107

Rating: E

Warnings: Smut (MF, oral sex, vaginal sex, accidental exhibitionism/voyeurism)

Synopsis: You thought Sam Wilson was the love of your life. You had planned to do it all with him - marriage, kids, see the world. Even when you’re life gets turned upside down, and you both end up international fugitives, he’s there by your side.

Then Thanos comes.

When Sam is one of the many turned to dust, leaving you alone and pregnant, you don’t think you’ll ever stop grieving. Yet, everyone tells you that Sam would want you to move on and live your life - that he’d want you to be happy. Gradually you open your heart up to another. Carol Danvers has lost people too. First her daughter, then her wife. As the two of you lean on each other, feelings grow and you move on together.

So what happens when Sam is returned to you?

Chapter 4: On the Run

It is strange how quickly your whole world can change. One minute you’re planning a wedding and living in the Avengers Compound in Upstate New York, an official agent for the Avengers. The next you’re considered a war criminal and you’re on the run with your fiance and three other people, one of them who happened to be Captain America.

It had been like a slow-motion car wreck watching everything go wrong. First, there was a completely unnecessary fight against your friends in the airport because no one wanted to listen to each other. Then you’d been arrested by people who you’d once considered not just friends, but family. Then you’d been shipped off to some secret supermax prison in the ocean for enhanced individuals with no trial, even though you weren’t enhanced. Then Steve Rogers had busted you out and you’d ended up on the run.

You were with Sam though, and you’d rather be with him on the run knowing you were on the right side of the fight than safe in New York alone.

You’d all been trying to make the most of your time working as vigilantes. There had been a lot of alien tech ending up in the hands of criminal organizations and Steve had been leading your little band of merry men to go and get it back.

Things weren’t easy for any of you. There was a lack of money coming in and everyone had had to quickly withdraw their entire savings before the government blocked all of their accounts. Thankfully Steve’s pension from the army had accrued a lot since he’d been lost at sea, but he hadn’t been able to withdraw all of it.

It had meant that a lot of the income came down to you, as out of everyone - you were the least recognizable. Yes, there were alerts out for you, but you were a spy - you knew how to disguise yourself and you knew where to find under-the-counter work when needed.

The trick was never staying in the same place for long and returning to countries that didn’t sign the accords. Even those weren’t safe for long - Ross was not above sending people into countries illegally to detain people who he was hunting - Bruce Banner was a testament to that - but they were safe for a little while and meant that once a month rather than sleep in the stolen Quinn, you could splash out and get a hotel. Although you were pretty sure that Wanda was often sleeping in hotels - with Vision most likely - anytime she said she needed to have some alone time.

You woke up and stretched on the cold metal floor of the Quinn, your spine popping loudly. Sam shifted in close to you, his arm draping over your sternum and his hand resting on your neck so his fingertips lightly caressed your jaw. “Was wondering when you were gonna wake up,” he murmured.

“Is it late?” You asked, blinking your eyes in the dark of the jet. There was light coming in through the cockpit window, but it was low and you couldn’t tell if that was because it was early or just overcast outside.

“Not particularly,” he said, his hand running down your neck and over your collarbone. “You just normally sleep like shit in the Quin.”

“Who says I didn’t,” you grumbled, rolling in toward him, and breathing him in. There was an acrid sting to his scent thanks to the fact that neither of you had showered for a few days. You were all due for a trip to somewhere remote with beds and good water pressure. Steve had said maybe going back to Wakanda for a few weeks was in order. He didn’t like to go too often because T’Challa had already extended himself above and beyond anything that was fair to ask of him just by harboring Bucky. But it had been over six months since any of you had been there, and you had accumulated a lot of alien technology that you knew Shuri would love to get her hands on.

Sam chuckled and his hands ran down to yours, linking your fingers together, and playing with the engagement ring that sat on your finger. “What if we just get married in Wakanda?”

You looked up into his eyes. They looked black in the dim light and when he smiled at you, the corners of them crinkled slightly. “I’m not sure that’s what you really want,” you said. “Don’t you want Sarah to be there? And the kids?”

Sam frowned. Sarah’s kids had been two and four years old when you’d gone on the run and every month that he missed of their lives hurt him. He’d been sending money back to his sister to keep the family business running back when you’d both had actual jobs, but these days he was barely scraping by himself.

He sighed and nuzzled into your neck. “I just want us to start our lives together.”

“I know, but life had other plans,” you said. “I love you and I don’t need to get married to know that. It’s not going to change anything. We will still be on the run and we won’t be able to build a stable life and have kids.”

Sam sighed and leaned his forehead against you. “I know, but I want you to be my wife.”

“I am your wife,” you said.

“Not legally,” he said.

“We don’t do anything legally at the moment,” you said, playfully. When Sam didn’t laugh, you sighed and wrapped your arms around him. “Sam,” you said. “If you really want to get married in Wakanda, I’ll do it. I’m sure I can get something nice to wear together, and Nat and Wanda can be my bridesmaids. I’m sure given how close we’ve all gotten they would be who I’d have picked anyway. Just like I know you’d have Steve be your best man. But I know you. This isn’t really what you want. You want the big wedding down in Louisiana like you always planned. With the catering done using fish that were caught by your family’s trawler and you want AJ and Cass to be our little ring bearers. And I know… I know that if you do this - if we get married in Wakanda without Sarah, she’ll murder you. She will murder you and then disown you post humus.”

Sam started laughing. “Yeah, she will.”

“Sam, I love you. I’m yours, no matter what,” you said.

“I know,” he replied with a sigh. “I know we’re doing the right thing now. I mean - Tony can get all on his high horse about how important the accords were, but he still broke them immediately. That fucking kid he brought to the fight is still breaking the accords and living his best life. I just… I wish we could have both.”

“So do I,” you said. “I hope they come around, but I’m scared that the thing that makes them realize how wrong they are is gonna be real bad. Like; world-ending bad.”

“Yeah, me too,” Sam said. “Which is why I’m doing this.”

“So, what do you want to do? You asked.

“I guess… we can wait,” Sam relented. “But maybe we can see if there’s any way we could do something small that we could sneak Sarah to? Like … she goes to the Maldives and who just happens to be there getting married?”

“They’ll be watching her,” you said.

“Yeah, I know,” he said. “But we can look into it.”

“Yeah, okay,” you agreed. “We’ll look into it.”

Sam leaned in and kissed you deeply. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders and pulled him down on top of you, so the full weight of his body pressed down on the cold metal floor of the jet.

Sam groaned softly and rolled his hips, his cock starting to harden against your thigh. “Where’s Steve?” you mumbled against his lips as he continued to kiss you. He was currently the only unknown factor as Wanda was on another of her ‘retreats’ and Natasha was dealing with some ‘personal things’ that she wouldn’t tell the rest of you about. He pulled back and smirked down at you. “Why? You want him to watch?”

“No,” you giggled, smacking his arm. “I want the opposite of that.”

Sam laughed and nuzzled at your neck, pushing his hands up under your sleep shirt. “On his morning run. Just you and me, baby.”

You kissed him again - more frantic this time, and your hands dug into his shoulders. Sam began to squeeze and massage your breast as he ground down against you, sending a warm buzz through your body. He began to move down your body, taking his time to both undress you and kiss every part of you. By the time he was crouched between your spread legs, your whole body prickled like a live wire.

He gripped your thigh with one hand and reached up and began massaging your breast with the other as he dipped his head down and began lapping at your cunt. You moaned and arched your back, gripping his bicep with one hand as you reached over your head with the other. A hot current ran through you as Sam focused on your clit, sucking and nipping at it as he squeezed your breast. He moaned into your cunt, the sound sending vibrations through you. You slowly fell apart under him, writhing as a coil of hot pleasure wound itself tightly in your core. Sam thrust two of his fingers inside you, and as soon as they hit that sweet spot inside you you cried out loudly and came hard, your whole body shuddering as your orgasm crashed through you.

Sam sat up onto his knees and looked at you. “Gonna have to be a little quieter,” he said tapping your thigh. “Steve’s got pretty good hearing you know.”

You scrunched up your face. “Maybe you need to gag me.”

Sam chuckled and bit his bottom lip as you got on our hands and knees. Even on the bedroll, your knees were going to hate you after this, but right now you didn’t care at all. Sam moved up behind you, held onto your hips, and thrust hard into you. You stumbled forward a little but managed to catch yourself on the cargo trunk in front of you. He began to fuck you hard immediately, not even waiting to steady yourself. You cried out and clenched around him as it felt like a hot shard tore through you.

Sam leaned over you, kissing your neck and shoulder, as he put his hand over your mouth. “Hush now,” he growled in your ear. “You don’t want to wake up the whole forest.”

You moaned into his hand and opened your mouth, letting him push two of his fingers inside for you to suck on. He railed into you, his hips moving quickly and erratically as your bodies slapped together. You tried to bounce back on him, adding to the pleasure coursing through you, but it wasn’t long until your arms gave out and you were helpless under him as your orgasm built.

As his hips began to stutter, Sam wrapped his arm around your waist and began to rub your clit. It was all it took for the dam inside you to burst. You buried your face in your arm and cried out as you came, clenching around Sam’s cock. He began to thrust even more erratically as he chased his own release and with a jerk and a low groan he came, releasing inside you.

You let yourself flop completely on the floor, breathing heavily and feeling a little high on endorphins. “You think Steve is out there and heard us?” You asked as Sam lay back down next to you and kissed your shoulder.

“Caught the tail end of the show!” Steve yelled, his voice muffled through the jet walls.

You and Sam both broke down into peels of laughter and you hid your face in Sam’s chest.

“Get a move on, would you?!” Steve yelled. “We have a lot to do today.”

You laughed even harder and Sam held you close, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “Come on, duty calls,” he chuckled.

You let him help you up and the two of you both started cleaning yourselves up the best way you could. You hoped to god that Steve would say it was time for a break soon, but in the meantime, you were glad you were here with Sam.

// NEXT

#sam wilson #carol danvers #sam wilson x reader #carol danvers x reader #falcon #captain marvel #falcon fanfic #captain marvel fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #reader insert #smut #moving on

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awake-dearheart · 3 years

Text

If The Night Is Burning I Will Cover My Eyes [s.r.]

edit by @nix-akimbo who is amazing and if you’re not following her you should be

Summary: Steve Rogers has always been the one to fight for what’s right, no matter what. So what happens when the cost of being on the losing side becomes too much for him to bear?

Word Count: 7245

Warnings: Mentions of violence, gunfire, murder, blood, fire, just...angst, drinking, spoilers for Infinity War and Endgame but like...it’s been a minute y’all

A/N: I’ve had this idea in my head for ages and I’m so excited for it to finally be here. There is no reader in this one, or anothr character Steve is explicitly shipped with. This is a pure Steve story. I hope you guys like it. Inspired by the song I See Fire by Ed Sheeran. If you’d like to join my taglist, click here!

“Oh, God.”

They’d lost. Steve couldn’t believe they’d lost. When T’Challa had agreed to let them shelter Vision within his borders, Steve was sure that was the edge that would keep their heads above water. The idea of actually losing to this madman from space had never even crossed his mind.

And yet, they had.

Steve sat among the ashes of his friends, with Vision’s crumpled body at his feet, crushed under the overwhelming weight of their loss. Of his failure.

“W-What do we do?” Natasha asked, her breath ragged. “Steve? What do we do now?” He heard her question, but he didn’t answer. His brain couldn’t process or help him to form words anymore. Everything around him was descending into chaos. People were screaming and crying. Raging. Tears and fury were weighing on the air all around him, but all Steve could do was sit, frozen to the ground. Somewhere behind him he could hear people talking. Maybe Bruce? They were probably making some kind of a plan. Gather the survivors. Find out who’s missing. Go after Thanos. It’s what he would do.

But he wasn’t. He couldn’t. All Steve could do right now was slowly drag himself to his feet and start to walk away.

“Where the hell are you going?” Rhodey called. The rushing in Steve’s ears was so loud he could barely make out the words, and even so, he didn’t answer. He wasn’t sure he could if he tried. His heart pounded wildly in his chest and his lungs burned as they desperately tried to pull in enough air. His feet were moving, but he didn’t know where they were taking him. All he could focus on were the faces he’d watched fade into nothing. Bucky…Wanda…Rhodey had been calling for Sam but Steve never heard an answer. Was he gone too? It seemed likely, given everything else that had happened. His people were gone. So many, in the blink of an eye. How could he have let this happen? He should have saved them. Fought harder. Done more. Something. Anything.

He stumbled through the open field that had just moments ago held a ferocious battle, eyes unfocused as he bumped into mourners left and right. There were no awkward apologies or half-smiles exchanged, just the forlorn wailing of a heartbroken people. Some of them cried, but Steve didn’t. He wasn’t sure why. Maybe he was too numb, or maybe his pain had gone so far past what he thought was possible that even tears couldn’t do it justice. Whatever the reason, he found himself oddly calm when he realized he’d made it back to the Quinjet. Some of the Dora were on the landing pad, but they were too preoccupied with the crisis at hand to pay attention to him. Steve made his way on board and shut the door, punching in random coordinates to take himself as far away from this place as possible.

For the next few weeks, Steve just wandered. He went back to New York briefly to grab some money he had stashed and a couple other things, and then he was off again. Knowing the Quinjet would be too easy to track, Steve left it behind. He didn’t want to deal with the questions he knew whoever caught up to him would have. So, he caught a flight across the Atlantic with some refugees that were headed home. The old no-fly list and various warrants he was sure he still had seemed not to matter much anymore. The world had bigger problems than a manhunt for a disgraced former Avenger.

Once he made it to Europe, he hitchhiked and took busses and trains across the land. There was no rhyme or reason to Steve’s path. He simply took any ride he was offered, the next train to leave, the first bus out in the morning. Fate seemed to have taken over for him though, and she knew exactly where he needed to go. His route took him past Saxony, Germany, and the newly rebuilt airport. Then, down through Bucharest and a rerouted strip of freeway. Finally, he went north and found himself at the base of a mountain, staring at the ruined remains of the Sokovian capital.

Blood began to drip from his knuckles before Steve even realized he was clenching his fists. His hands shook as he opened them and raised them to his eyes. The crescent-shaped cuts his nails left behind were shallow, no doubt to be healed by morning, but the sight of them still made his stomach turn. He’d been numb and lost ever since the snap, shoving every emotion he felt as deep as possible because he couldn’t bear to let himself feel. Now, every drop of blood that fell from his veins pulled with it everything he’d been trying to hide. Steve fell to his knees, his hands sliding through the soft dirt, and began to weep.

How could he have let this happen? The path of destruction he’d painted across Europe had taunted him and led him back to Sokovia, where it all began. It seemed fitting that he found himself here, sitting defeated in the shadow of his first failure after facing his greatest. He squeezed his eyes shut and cried harder, his tears mixing with the blood and dirt below him. He cried for the friends he’d lost. He cried for the people he couldn’t save. But mostly, he cried for himself. It was long dark by the time his last tears dried on his face and he was able to climb back to his feet. He shivered against the night air and wrapped his arms around himself as he staggered away to find somewhere safe for the night, and possibly beyond that.

As luck would have it, there was a small cabin at the base of the mountain that was uninhabited. Steve assumed the previous occupants must have been snapped away. He made himself at home, stowing his things safely and securing the cabin. There was a small village nearby, far enough away that nobody would wander too near, and close enough that he could get some supplies. He stocked up on food, water, and enough whiskey to kill a lesser man, and locked himself inside. Drinking himself to death would be no small feat, but, hey, when had Steve Rogers ever backed away from a challenge?

It was only a few days into his binge when Natasha found him. Part of him was convinced she’d never lost him. She had a talent for being able to keep just beyond the edge of the shadows, where no one thinks to look but from where everything can be seen. At one time Steve had admired her for that. Now, he cursed her. She knocked on the door, ignoring the fact that they both knew she could break it down if she had half a mind to, and Steve grumbled to himself as he opened it.

“And they say chivalry is dead,” Natasha said with a smirk. Steve rolled his eyes and went back to the kitchen, pouring himself another glass of whiskey.

“What do you want, Romanoff?” he asked coldly, tossing his drink back. The sting of the liquor in his throat was the extent of the effect the first bottle had on him, but he poured himself another nonetheless.

“So much for the welcome wagon,” she said, helping herself to a drink and sitting down at the table. “I thought you missed me.”

“I miss a lot of people,” he said flatly. “Why are you here?” His tone was a little sharper than he intended, and Natasha gave the slightest flinch at his words. He thought about apologizing for a second, but instead, he just sat down and waited for her to speak.

“Tony’s back,” she said finally, causing Steve to freeze in his spot. He assumed Tony had been snapped away with the others or killed when he took off aboard Thanos’ ship. The last thing he expected to hear was that he had somehow found his way home.

“He ok?” Steve asked, keeping his voice intentionally softer.

“More or less,” Nat confirmed. “He got lost in space apparently. Came back with some new players. Powerful ones.” This time Steve didn’t respond. He knew what she was getting at and there was no way. That part of his life was over now, packed up under his bed soon to be forgotten.

“You still haven’t answered my question,” Steve challenged. “Why are you here?” Natasha downed her drink and met his gaze, leaning over the table on her elbows.

“We’re going after him,” she said sternly. “Thanos. We know where he’s going to be and we’re going after him. We’re gonna get the stones and use them to bring everybody back.” Steve scoffed and stood up, turning to grab the bottle of whiskey again.

“Good luck with that,” he said, pouring another drink. “Send me a postcard.”

“I’m serious, Steve,” she said, shoving her chair back and standing up quickly.

“So am I,” he snapped, his glass cracking in his fist. “I’m not doing this anymore, Natasha. I’m done.”

“You can’t just be done,” Natasha reasoned. “We have a real shot here. We can fix this.”

“And then what?” Steve yelled, throwing his broken glass in the sink. “Say you do win. You take out Thanos and get the stones and you bring everyone back. What happens next? There will always be some other horrible thing on the horizon ready to pick up where the last one left off. It never ends.”

“Steve…”

“I failed everyone, Nat,” Steve choked out, his eyes rimmed red. “I always thought if I just did the right thing it would all be ok in the end. I put the Valkyrie in the water even though I knew I wouldn’t make it because it would save millions of lives. I went with Bucky after Siberia because I knew he needed me, even if it cost me everything. And I went to Wakanda ready to lay down my life because I knew it was what needed to be done. Every time I thought ‘This is the time I don’t make it out’ but I was never afraid. I had this idiotic faith that everything would work out somehow. I fought each and every fight because we were the good guys, and the good guys always win. Well, guess what? The good guys lost in a pretty fucking major way. I can’t do it anymore, Natasha. I can’t watch my friends suffer over and over and over again just for the light at the end of the tunnel to be muzzle flashes. I won’t.”

“You’re willing to walk away all because we lost one time?” Natasha asked, her face as unreadable as ever. Steve scoffed and raised his eyes to meet hers.

“I don’t know if you’ve been keeping track,” he growled. “But this is more than just a loss. I failed my people. Bucky, Sam, Wanda…they’re all dead because I let them down.”

“Oh, cut the shit, Rogers,” Natasha snapped, making Steve jump. “Self-loathing isn’t a good look on you. We all made the choice to go into that fight knowing what was on the line and we all lost. You think you’re the only one hurting over it?”

“I was the one in charge!” he yelled back. “You all followed me out there. Everyone expected Captain America to save the day like always, and I failed. I let you all down.” Silence fell between them as Steve took another drink straight from the bottle. Natasha studied his face as he did, and he could swear he almost heard the gears in her head turning. She’d always had an uncanny ability to make someone feel naked under her stare and Steve shifted in his spot to try and avoid it.

“Then why take it?” she asked quietly. The bottle almost slipped from his fingers as her words hit him like a freight train. Of course she knew he had it. He hadn’t exactly tried to hide it and Natasha seemed to have been tracking his every move since he left Wakanda. Steve forced his eyes to stay on the floor and not flit to the leather bag tucked under his bed.

“It’s mine,” he said finally. “It’s always been mine. I didn’t want anyone else getting their hands on it.” Tears threatened at the edges of his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He’d cried enough for two lifetimes at this point. He was tired of it.

“You’re really not going to help us?” Natasha asked, not moving from her spot. There was a hint of something Steve couldn’t quite place in her voice. Was it just sadness? Or maybe fear? He lifted his eyes from the floor finally to meet hers, and when he did, he realized all too quickly what it was. She wasn’t sad or angry or even disappointed. What he had heard, and could now see in her eyes, was a woman who was losing hope.

“I’m sorry, Nat,” he nearly whispered. “That’s not who I am anymore.”

It got quiet again. Steve hated it. The silence pressed in on his ears so hard it almost hurt. He wanted her to yell or scream or throw things. Anything. But she just stood there, staring at him.

“Ok.”

Steve recoiled at her resignation, almost like she had slapped him across the face. In all the time he had known her he had never seen Natasha look so defeated. He wanted to take it back. He wanted to be able to give her hope again. But he couldn’t. He had been fighting for so long and he was just too tired. So, he stayed quiet and waited. After a few minutes of crushing silence, she set her glass down and made her way to the door.

“I’m sorry, Nat,” he said again. “I really am. For what it’s worth, I hope you get the bastard.” Natasha stopped with her hand on the knob and looked over at him.

“Why here?” she asked, catching his eyes. “Why did you pick here? You’re almost directly in the rubble from Novi Grad. Why would you choose to stay here?” It was a fair question, he thought. To a rational person, staying in the shadow of destruction like this seemed insane. He knew the answer as soon as she asked the question. Sokovia had been the start of it all. Settling here, forcing himself to face that failure again every day, that was his penance.

“It’s what I deserve.”

Five Years Later

Steve stared out the small window in his kitchen over the field of crops he had planted around the cabin. They were about a week shy of being ready to harvest and then taken to the village to be bartered. Going into the village was like clockwork at this point, and he knew the people would be expecting him any time.

It had taken some time during his self-imposed exile to find a routine that didn’t involve a case of booze every other day. Eventually, he had come to the realization that he couldn’t actually drink himself into an early grave, so he decided the next best thing would be to work the land. It would be hard work, backbreaking if he were still the same man he was before the serum, but he could do it. He planted as many crops as he could around his cabin, working from sunup to sundown every day to maintain them. When harvest time came, he would keep only what would sustain him and took everything else to the village to trade.

His first few visits were met with raised eyebrows and hushed whispers. Never had a single farmer brought so much yield into the village at one time. A few of the merchants were skeptical to trade with him, thinking he must have stolen some of it. It was inconceivable to them that one man could harvest so much on his own. After a few trips, they came to accept the bearded stranger and his curiously large harvest and began to trade freely with him.

Steve always gave more than he got. He took the lowest prices for his crops and traded for much smaller portions than any of the other farmers around. The villagers wondered why but knew better than to question a good deal. Steve never told them why. How could he? There was no easy way for him to tell them he was responsible for the gaping crater that was once their capital. So, he settled for what he could. Giving them his crops almost for free was the best atonement he could offer.

Nights were the worst. The pain that pulled at his chest could be kept at bay while the sun was up. There were chores to do and crops to tend, and all that kept his mind far too busy for his grief to catch up. But once the sun fell and gave way to the dark, he found himself enveloped in despair. His pillow became permanently stained from the tears that lay with him every night. When he did sleep, he was plagued with continuous visions of the people he’d failed. Every night they haunted his dreams, and every morning he woke up drenched in sweat. Day after day, night after night, for five long years, it was all the same.

It was a morning like any other, wholly unremarkable like the last five years had been, when everything changed. Steve was in the field closest to his cabin, fertilizing the soil when he heard something in the village. People were screaming, the noise carried down to him by the warm midday breeze. He was about to write it off as some random skirmish between locals and go back to work when he heard the unmistakable popping of gunfire. His head snapped up toward the sound as it filled the air a second time and his stomach dropped. The fertilizer bag fell from his hands, left forgotten on the ground as Steve took off running toward the village.

He moved quickly, ducking between the trees that filled the space between his cabin and the village to keep himself hidden from view. Once he got as close as he dared he crouched down, peering out from behind the tree line. The villagers were running through the streets frantically, most of them with tears and panic streaking their faces. In between the villagers, Steve could see throngs of people he didn’t recognize. They were heavily armed and moderately well organized and they moved throughout the village forcefully, pulling people from their homes left and right. Gunshots rang out again from somewhere on the other side of the village, and Steve dropped down further to keep himself hidden. His eyes stayed trained on the armed invaders, tracking their movements as they swept through the village. They were shouting in Sokovian, and despite the half a decade Steve had spent in the country he had picked up frightfully little of the language that didn’t have to do with farming or bartering. He was able to catch a couple words, and they were mostly orders of where to go. It seemed that they were rounding everyone up and taking them to the center of town. But for what, Steve didn’t know.

Below him a door burst open, and one of the armed men emerged. He was dragging who Steve assumed to be the resident there out the door by his hair as his wife and son followed behind, begging for his life. Their pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears, and the invader dragged the man a few yards away and threw him to the ground.

Steve recognized what was about to happen all too well. He’d seen it in Germany, so many years ago. Bile rose in his throat at the memory and he shifted his weight, ready to charge the armed man. Instinctively, his right arm curled toward him, and his hand clenched around a weapon that wasn’t there. He paused and looked down, his body stilling at the emptying absence of the once familiar weight. He could still hear yelling from below, but it sounded like it was miles away. The thudding of his heart in his ears all but drowned it out as Steve fell back in the dirt, clutching his chest as his breathing sped up.

“No,” he whispered to himself, squeezing his eyes tight. He drove the heels of his hands against his eyelids until spots danced behind them, desperate to force his racing senses back under his control.

He couldn’t do this again. The battles were supposed to be something he’d left behind a long time ago. This wasn’t supposed to find him here. It was supposed to be safe. Steve ran his hands through his hair and tugged gently, rocking back and forth on the ground. His head was spinning, his ears were roaring, and his heart was pounding so hard he was sure it was seconds from bursting free from his chest. Every part of his body was shaking, and just when he was sure he was about to fall apart, a single gunshot rang out.

Everything stopped all at once when Steve’s eyes snapped open. His body stopped shaking, his heart and breathing slowed, and the roaring in his ears was replaced by a deafening silence. It only lasted for a second and then the gut-wrenching wail of a newly made widow filled the air, rattling his bones once more. He looked up just in time to see her fall to her knees, clawing at her chest. Her son stood beside her, frozen in terror. Steve wanted so badly to help them. To do something. To fight. He owed them, after all. He owed all of them. But with every thought of confronting the invaders came visions of every battle he’d lost and every person he’d failed. What if he failed again? What if he got involved and made everything worse? He thought briefly about calling Nat. Maybe she could bring in a team to help. If there even was a team left. He hadn’t heard from any of them in so long. There might not be any Avengers left. Steve finally tore his eyes from the weeping widow, struggling to pull himself to his feet, only to be met with the tear-filled and grief-stricken ones of a fatherless child. He froze, staring at the boy who hadn’t moved from his mother’s side. Steve could almost hear the pleading behind his wide eyes, and it cut him to his core. Watching the pair of them, feeling the pain rolling off them, was more than Steve could take. He tore his eyes from the scene before him, staggering to his feet and turning toward home.

For two days, Steve stayed locked inside his cabin, terrified of what he’d find if he left. He was far enough from the village that he didn’t think the violence would find him, but that didn’t stop the sound. Even with his doors and windows closed and the curtains drawn, the screams of terrified villagers and the crackles of gunfire managed to slip inside and torment him. He tried his best to drown it out, first with blankets and towels shoved under the doors, then with the alcohol he had left in his cabinets, but somehow the sound found a way in.

His sleep was worse than ever. As soon as his eyes fell shut, he was plagued with new nightmares of what he had seen in the village. Over and over, he heard the gunshot and the screams of the woman who had lost her husband. He saw the pleading eyes of her son. Each time he saw it he wanted to move, but he was rooted to the ground like the trees around him. He spent the long two days trying to justify his inaction to himself. The last time he fought it ended with half of the world disappearing. Even if he did get involved, there was no way of knowing he wouldn’t make things worse.

“It’s best to stay out of it,” he kept telling himself. Eventually, he figured he might believe it.

The sun had just started to set on the second day when a small knock at his door made Steve jump so high he thought he might put a hole in his roof. His fork clattered against his plate as it slipped from his grip and his eyes widened. It couldn’t be the bandits from the village. They wouldn’t bother knocking and judging but the sounds of the shuffling from behind the door it seemed to be someone small. Had Natasha finally returned to drag him back home? Was five years as long as she’d allow him to torture himself? A second timid knock rang out as Steve’s eyes flitted to his bedroom. The aged leather bag was still under his bed, covered by five years’ worth of dust. Was today the day he’d be forced to open it? After a moment, Steve decided whatever was on the other side of the door couldn’t be too great a threat or they would have made a move by now. He got up from the table and walked over slowly, opening the door just a crack. Standing on the other side, his eyes holding the same terror they had the last time Steve saw him, was the boy from the village.

“What are you doing here?” Steve blurted out, opening the door a little further.

“Please,” the boy whimpered. “We need help. The men with guns won’t leave.” Steve sighed softly and dropped his gaze.

“I know,” he admitted shamefully. “I saw them. They…they’ll move on eventually.”

“No, they won’t,” the child said. “I hear them talking. They say they are going to kill us all and burn the village down.” Steve’s stomach dropped and he tightened his grip in the door, the wood groaning in protest as he fought to keep himself from slipping into another panic attack. He took a deep, shaking breath before he looked back at the boy.

“Tell your mother to get everyone out,” Steve said flatly. “Get all the people you can and make a run-“

“We can’t,” the boy interrupted. “The men patrol all the time. They keep us from running.”

“What do you want from me here, kid?” Steve snapped. He flinched when he saw the scared child recoil from him and forced himself to soften his features and stay silent for fear of frightening him further.

“They killed my papa,” his small voice murmured through tears. Blinking back his own, Steve dropped his chin to his chest.

“I know,” he said softly. “And I’m so sorry. But I can’t help you.”

“But…you’re Captain America.”

It was almost like his words forcibly sucked the air from the room. Steve could feel the color drop from his face like an anchor from a ship and it threatened to pull him down with it. All this time, he’s assumed nobody here knew who he was. The unkempt beard and hair had kept him mostly unrecognizable while they had been on the run, and he thought it might have stayed that way. Of course, it only took a child to see right through him. Under different circumstances, he might have even found it amusing. Now, all he could do was lift his head slowly and feel his heart shatter at the sight of the desperate face before him.

“Not anymore,” he said simply. Before either of them could say anything else, Steve closed the door and retreated to his room.

It took almost no time once he finally fell asleep for the dreams to start. It was almost like they had been waiting for him. Nightmares played behind his eyes as Steve thrashed and whimpered in his bed, unable to do anything to wake himself. Everything he saw was as crystal clear as the day it first happened and despite his desperate screams, Steve couldn’t stop it. He watched as Bucky faded into dust before him. He listened as Rhodey called for Sam, knowing there would never be an answer. He leapt onto the last transport as Sokovia fell out of the sky from under him. Over and over, he watched all his greatest failures, laid before him in the worst form of torture.

A scream tore through the air, pulling Steve forcefully from his sleep. He sat bolt upright, his chest heaving as sweat dripped off his face. It took him a few minutes to realize the screams he was hearing weren’t his own, or even the ones of the ghosts inside his head. They were coming from the village. He tumbled out of his bed, his leg catching on something as he rubbed his face. Another, louder scream pierced the air, sending a shudder rippling down Steve’s spine. He opened his window and looked out, his brow furrowing slightly. There was a soft orange glow on the horizon that he almost mistook for sunrise. The clock on his bedside table told him it was several hours too early for that, and suddenly the memory of the boy at his door came flooding back to him.

The village was on fire.

He slammed the window shut and turned around, covering his face. This wasn’t his fight. It never had been. He could just go back to sleep and when he woke up all this would be over. But when he opened his eyes to do just that, what he saw on the floor almost made his legs give out. Somehow, while he had been thrashing in his sleep, the bag he’d stored under his bed had been knocked free, and that’s what had caught his leg when he’d gotten up. The zipper had been tugged open and now, laying free from its confines for the first time in five years, was his shield.

“This isn’t your fight,” he mumbled to himself, running his hands through his hair. “This isn’t your fight. This isn’t your fight.” Steve fell to his knees and tugged at his locks, his breath rattling in his chest as he did. The shield seemed to stare back at him, almost judgmental in its silence.

“I can’t,” he choked out. “I’ll fail them. Just like I failed everyone.” He didn’t know why we was talking to it, but he felt like he had to. If he didn’t say the words out loud he felt like his head might explode. Just then, a gust of wind forced his window back open, and the loudest scream yet tumbled through. Had he not known any better, Steve would have sworn it was Wanda. He’d heard that kind of pain when she’d lost her brother to Ultron. Something about the raw agony in it shook Steve from the nightmare he had found himself in.

What was he doing? This wasn’t who he was. If his friends could see him now, they’d be ashamed of him. Bucky would probably kick his ass, and Sam would help. Hell, Wanda would probably use her power to make him fight. In all his years on this earth, no matter how many times he’d been beaten down or kicked into the dirt he had always gotten back up. It was his way. He couldn’t sit idly by and let these monsters ravage the village. This was his fight. It had always been his fight. From the moment he volunteered for Dr. Erskine’s project his job had been to help the people who needed him.

Not a perfect soldier, but a good man.

His hand shook slightly as he reached out, gingerly brushing his fingers over the cold metal. Shame flooded him at the same time as clarity did. How could he have been so selfish? He let that man in the village die, in front of his wife and child, and for what? He could have stopped it. In trying to hide from his failures, he’d walked himself right into another one.

“Not again.”

Steve rose from the ground, his shield once again at its proper place on his arm, and made for the door. This village was his home now. Its people were his people, and he’d be damned if he failed his people again.

He took the same path he had two days before, staying low among the trees. The closer he got to the village the clearer everything became. The light and heat from the flames, the smell of smoke and burning wood, the screams of the people being terrorized. At the edge of the woods he spotted two armed guards, chuckling over the destruction below them. Knocking them out was almost too easy even in his unpracticed state. He looked out around the trees, and his eyes widened in shock.

Half of the village was engulfed in flames. They danced up into the air, painting the night sky with hues of red and orange. Even the mountain behind the village seemed to glow with them, giving the entire scene a terrifying aura. Steve’s eyes scanned over the village, the light of the fire reflected in them. He counted the armed men he could see from his perch before making his way toward them.

It was shocking to him how quickly everything came back. His muscles remembered how to silence an enemy in one hit before they could call for help. He managed to circle the village twice, picking off sentries and guards as he went, before anyone knew he was there. Eventually, as it always was, someone saw and raised the alarm for the rest. Steve’s hand tightened on his shield and he stood his ground as the bandits charged him. Gunshots pinged off his shield as they fired on him, screaming in Sokovian. He swung his arm and knocked out two of them at once, grabbing the barrel of a gun he found aimed at his head before it could fire. With a grunt, he pulled it from its owner’s hands and swung it hard, knocking him out cold. More and more men swarmed the area, and one by one, they fell. Between gunshots, heavy punches, and the thudding of unconscious bodies hitting the ground, Steve made his way through all of them. Along the way, he gathered whatever villagers he could find and used his broken Sokovian to direct them away from the carnage. He couldn’t help but note as he made for the center of town that he hadn’t yet seen the boy and his mother. Was he too late for them?

Smoke and screams filled the air as Steve threw the shield like he had never stopped, stopping an enemy running for him dead in his tracks. When he emerged from the smoke at the center of town, he narrowed his eyes at the sight. A small group of bandits was gathered there, protecting their obvious leader. He was screaming frantic instructions at them, his face drenched with sweat and fear. There was a moment of hesitation among the entire group before one particularly brave man led the charge, screaming as he did. Steve smirked slightly to himself and stomped on the edge of the shield, flipping it up into his waiting hand. He raised it high to deflect their bullets as he ran forward to meet them. The first two were knocked off their feet in an instant, hitting the dirt hard and groaning in pain. The next three fell by his fists as he kept on his path toward the leader. More bullets rained on him as Steve dropped to the ground and rolled to his right, throwing his shield hard to knock out the two men that flanked him. Only two others remained and with a few well-placed blows, Steve sent them to the ground as well. He drew himself to his full height and glared at the bandit leader, rage and adrenaline bubbling in his chest. The terrified man tried to stare him back down, but the tremble in his hands made his fear all too evident.

They made their moves at the same time, the invader raising his gun to fire and Steve diving out of the way just in time to avoid the spray of bullets. He scooped the shield back into his grip and ran forward, sending bullets ricocheting back the way they came. One of them struck his enemy in the arm and he cried out in pain, lowering his gun and giving Steve an opening. He lunged forward and grabbed the weapon, bringing his shield down with as much force as he could to crack it in two. As it fell in pieces to the ground, Steve turned to the wounded bandit and seized him by the neck, lifting him high to glare at him as his feet dangled helplessly below him.

“M-Mercy,” the man croaked out. “Please. Mercy.” Something about the fear that voice fueled the rage that was already burning in Steve’s gut, and he squeezed tighter.

“You want mercy?” Steve hissed through gritted teeth. “Where was your mercy when you attacked my people? Hmm? Tough man when you’re the only one with a little muscle but as soon as anyone stands up to you, you’re pissing in your pants aren’t you? Give me one good reason I should let you walk away from here.” His fingers tightened around the man’s neck, pulling more gasps and choking sounds from him as he fought for air. From behind the struggling man, Steve could see the villagers stepping out of the shadows. Among them was the boy that had come to his door, and his mother. Steve let out a small sigh of relief seeing they were ok, letting his grip loosen slightly. They were staring at him, the remaining flames casting long shadows over their awestruck faces. Steve looked over the crowd, then turned back to the gagging bandit in his hand. He thought about how easy it would be to end it. A simple flick of his wrist and this plight would be over. His people would be safe. He squeezed tighter again and the man clawed at Steve’s hands, desperately trying to breathe. The crowd around him gasped, and that was all it took for Steve to realize what he was doing. He slowly uncurled his fingers and lowered the man so they were eye to eye.

“Leave,” Steve growled at him. “If you ever come back here, or I hear you’ve tried this anywhere else, I won’t be so forgiving.” He opened his hand and let the bandit fall to the ground, keeping his eyes on him. The man choked and sputtered, gasping for air as Steve turned to walk away.

“Wh-Who are you?” his raspy voice called out. Steve stopped and looked down at the shield in his hand before glancing over his shoulder and catching the eyes of the boy who’d recognized him. With a small smirk, Steve turned to the crumpled man on the ground.

“I’m Captain America.”

For the next three weeks, Steve spent more time in the village than he had in the previous five years. Together with his people he had helped put out the fires and harvested all his crops to feed everyone. Once the injured had been cared for and the dead had been buried, they set to work rebuilding everything the bandits had destroyed. It felt right to be helping, and Steve felt more like himself than he had in years.

The sun was already scorching in the sky and the work for the day well underway when someone came running toward him, shouting about an outsider in the village. Steve’s head snapped up and his muscles tensed, ready for another fight, but once he saw a familiar flash of red hair, he relaxed.

“It’s ok,” he said with a small smile. “She’s a friend.”

“Aw, I’m touched,” she quipped, looking him over. “You look like shit, Rogers.” He chuckled and rolled his eyes, pulling her in for a tight hug.

“It’s good to see you too,” he said as she squeezed him back. Warmth spread through him when he felt her arms around him, and Steve realized just how much he had missed her. He held on a little longer than he should have, clearing his throat before stepping back. Natasha discreetly wiped an errant tear from her cheek and offered him a soft smile.

“This your handiwork?” she asked, nodding toward one of the burnt-out buildings.

“Not exactly,” Steve said as he blushed and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “What are you doing here, Natasha?” She crossed her arms in front of her and bit her lip, steadying herself as she spoke.

“We found something,” she said quietly. “Or someone. He found us. It’s a long story but we think we’ve got a way to bring everybody back.” Steve sighed and shook his head, setting his hands on his hips.

“Nat, we’ve been down this road before,” he started, but she shook her head to stop him.

“This is different,” she protested. “Scott can explain it better than I can but I swear, Steve. This is read. We can undo all of this.”

“You tried going against him before and nothing changed,” Steve said. “What makes you think this time will be any different.”

“Just…just trust me,” she begged, her eyes glistening. “We need you for this. Please.” There was a vulnerability in Natasha’s voice that Steve had never heard from her before, and it made him pause. She really believed this chance, whatever it was, would work. When she told him they were going after Thanos the first time, it felt like a mission born of vengeance. He wasn’t sure back then she actually believed they could save everyone. Now, something really was different. There was still fear and trepidation, but there was something else there too.

Hope.

The hope he’d stolen from her five years ago was back and she had come here to find him, begging him to keep it alive. Steve looked over his shoulder at the villagers working. They had come a long way in three short weeks, digging themselves out of the rubble the bandits had left behind. There was even a bit of laughter in the air now, attempting to heal the scars of that awful night. Steve didn’t want to go. He loved it here and he wanted to stay with the people that had come to accept him as one of their own, but he knew this mission was bigger than just him. It was bigger than all of them. If it worked, they could see their loved ones again. Families would be reunited, and even more scars could be healed. Leaving now wasn’t him running away again. Going with Natasha was a way to actually give back what he owed to his people. His eyes found the mother and son that had lost their father, and the boy beamed and waved at Steve. He smiled and waved back, chuckling softly as he took one last look at the place that had become his home. With a silent goodbye to his people, he turned back to Natasha.

“Let’s go.”

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just-dreaming-marvel · 3 years

Text

Out Of Time ~ 119

MASTERLIST

< previous chapter

Word Count: 2,300ish

Summary: More of Y/N’s stay in Wakanda.

Y/N was still in a little state of shock, pacing back in forth in her room. Bucky was here. Bucky was alive and had been getting help. She hadn’t spoke to him since Siberia and that was…. Y/N froze in her place when she realized that it had been nine months. Nine months… She should have had her baby by now. She would have had her baby… her precious baby that she didn’t even know the gender of. She collapsed to the floor on her knees. Tears streamed down her face as she wrapped her arms around herself and cried. She stayed like that into the morning hours.

Bucky wasn’t acting much different. He had paced across his small house so many times, he swore he could feel a mark in the floor. He was nervous. He had imagined so many times how his first meeting with Y/N since Siberia would go, and that definitely wasn’t it. She was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, even though he could tell the last nine months had not been easy on her. Bucky felt immediate guilt. Blaming himself for what had happened in Siberia.

In the morning, Bucky went to the palace, wanting to talk to T’Challa. He found the King walking down a hallway.

“Your Majesty,” Bucky called, jogging to catch up.

“Oh, Sargent Barnes,” T’Challa smiled, stopping and turning slightly. “How are—“

“Where you ever going to tell me that Y/N’s staying here?”

“T’Challa sighed. “How did you find out?”

“Last night. I was taking a walk in the fields and so was she.”

“Did she see you?”

“Yes.”

“Did she leave?”

“She told me she wouldn’t. But—“

“But you’re not so sure. Follow me.” T’Challa started heading towards Y/N’s room with Bucky in tow.

“T’Challa, why is she here?”

“Like you and the Captain, she’s a fugitive. I promised Steve that I would look for her, look out for her. I found her staying in South Africa, longer than she usually was in one place.”

“I thought she was with Stark. Hasn’t she been with him this whole time?”

T’Challa sighed. “She was missing for six months before we started noticing her movements. From what I know, Stark has been searching for her since then as well.”

“Six months? Of nothing?”

“Yes.”

“Has she…”

“She hasn’t opened up to me. But Y/N has just gotten here. She needs time.”

“How long is she staying?”

“As long as she likes. Here we are.” The men stopped in front of a large door. T’Challa knocked. “Y/N?” He called. No answer. He tried again. “Y/N? Can I come in?” Nothing.

Bucky physical deflated. “She’s probably gone.”

“You don’t know that… Y/N, I’m coming in.” T’Challa opened the door, looking around the room with Bucky following.

“Y/N!” Bucky exclaimed, noticing her unconscious on the floor. He and T’Challa were quickly at her side. “Y/N.” He gently shook her. Just by her face, they could tell she had been crying, recently. “Come on, doll. Wake up.”

“Hmmm?” Y/N hummed, coming back to consciousness. She blinked her eyes rapidly a few times. “Bucky? T’Challa? What’s going on?”

“You tell us,” T’Challa said. “We walked in to find you on the floor, unconscious.”

“Oh… I must have fallen asleep.”

“Doing what, doll?” Bucky questioned.

“I… uh… thanks for the concern. Both of you.” She pushed herself up to stand. “But I think I’m going to go get ready for the day.”

“Y/N…” Bucky reached out to stop her but she pulled away.

“I’ll see you guys around.”

She quickly disappeared into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Bucky sighed.

“Do not get discouraged, Barnes,” T’Challa said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Like you, she just needs time.”

~~~

When Y/N exited the bathroom, she was relieved to see that both T’Challa and Bucky were gone. She did notice that there was some food and a small note on the small table near the door. She walked over, slowly picking up the note.

Y/N - I’m sorry that you found out about me being here the way you did. I understand if you don’t want to be near me. Just know that I will wait however long it takes for you to be ready to talk to me. Cause I understand. I’m going through things too and need time. I’ll be here though, whenever you need. - Bucky

Y/N sighed as she set the note back down. He was clearly trying to get better, to heal from what had happened. Why was it so hard for her to do so? She decided that she needed to go clear her head again, so she headed outside. Y/N wandered around the kingdom, through the streets and market, until eventually, she found herself back at the spot she had run into Bucky the night before. Looking around, she tried to see if there was anyway she could tell where he had come from, or where he had been going.

Y/N turned around, observing her surroundings. She stopped when she noticed a small clay house, not too far away. It was just off the bank of the river with a large tree in front of it. As Y/N slowly moved closer, she noticed a small fenced off area with a few goats. She froze when a man came out of the house, holding some hay, and threw it to the goats. She must’ve been too obvious because Bucky turned, meeting her gaze.

Slowly, Bucky walked over. He stopped far enough away for her to still hear him but wasn’t too close, just incase. Her eyes didn’t stray from his figure.

“How are you?” He asked. He’d been worried since this morning.

“I’m… fine,” she answered. “I’m good.”

“That wasn’t very convincing.”

“Yeah… I definitely think I’ve been better.”

Bucky nodded. “I know the feeling. Do you, uh… do you want to come inside?” He motioned to the house.

“I, um…” She was nervously playing with her fingers as she took a small step back. “I… don’t know…”

“That’s okay. Do you want to stay out here?”

“I don’t know…”

“Okay. What do you want to do?”

“I think… I… I want to apologize…”

He quickly was confused. “Apologize? What do you have to apologize for?”

“For the way Tony acted. He shouldn’t have done what he did.”

“You shouldn’t be apologizing for Tony. Plus… I deserved it. I killed his parents. You should be mad at me too. You were friends with Howard.”

“I’m not mad about that, cause I know that was HYDRA’s doing… I was only ever mad that Steve knew and kept it a secret from us… from me…”

“How— how is Stark?”

“I… I don’t know…. I haven’t seen him since Siberia.”

“Why? I thought you two were a… a couple.”

“Because… he…” Emotion took over her eyes and throat. “He… I…”

“It’s okay.” He stepped forward. “You don’t have to talk about it… you don’t owe me that.”

“I feel like I need to talk about it though… I haven’t really said a whole lot about it since then…”

“Only if you’re ready.”

“I… I don’t know… All I know is that I miss talking to you… I… we used to tell each other everything…”

Bucky nodded. “We did. Why don’t you wait here and I’ll go run and get a blanket for us to sit on. Is that alright?” Y/N nodded in response, not able to met his eyes or open her mouth. “Okay. I’ll be right back.”

He rushed away, back to his house. He quickly grabbed a few blankets and snacks, just in case. When Bucky left his house, he paused as he watched Y/N nervously looking around. He wasn’t used to this side of her. Yes, he had since it before, growing up, but she had always quickly hidden it behind her strength. Bucky laid a blanket down underneath the tree. As he set everything else down, Y/N walked over.

“I thought it would be nice to sit under the tree,” Bucky said as she neared.

Y/N simply nodded. Bucky motioned for her to sit down and she did. She leaned up against the tree, nervously playing with the edge of the blanket with her left hand. Bucky watched, noticing the scaring on her hand.

“Your hand…” he whispered. Y/N looked at him as he studied her hand. “How… what happened?”

“When I fell from the plane,” she answered quietly. “I was holding onto the Tesseract. A power source. It burned my skin.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She shook her head slightly. “It’s not as bad as not having a left hand.”

“True.” He let out a small chuckle. He looked over where his arm was suppose to be. “Shuri’s made me two new arms. I just… I don’t want it yet. Even though it’s not the arm HYDRA gave me, it reminds me of all the things I’ve done.”

“It wasn’t you. HYDRA did those things.”

“That’s what Steve said.”

“Have you…. Do you know where he is?”

“No. We’ve had some small phone conversations here and there, so that I know he’s alive. But we haven’t seen each other since I went back under.”

“I haven’t seen him since Siberia…. Is he… is the team with him?”

“Sam, Natasha, and Wanda are. Clint and Scott took a deal for their families.”

“Good for them.” She nodded, looking off in the distance.

The two sat in silence, simply letting themselves try and enjoy each others company. Bucky watched Y/N as she took in the area around her. He could tell she was trying not to look at him, for whatever reason. But he was okay with that as long as she wasn’t running.

This went on for weeks. Each day, Y/N would find her way to Bucky’s small house, never entering, and they would sit under the tree. Sometimes they would talk, about the old times mostly and the new inventions Bucky was still getting used to. But other times, they sat in silence. And that was perfectly okay.

~~~

Y/N had been in Wakanda for a little over 5 weeks. She had spent the day at Bucky’s once again, enjoying her time there. She was tired, so falling asleep wasn’t hard for her. It would be staying asleep that would be hard.

She had seen the scene before her, before. People screaming, dust or ash floating around. A Stone covered gauntlet snapping its fingers. Y/N snapped up in bed, panting and sweating. Her mind replaying the scene over and over. She trembled as she threw her legs over the side of the bed and tried to stand. Taking a few unsteady steps, she eventually fell to the ground.

Moving her hands to push herself up, she realized that the ground was dirt. Y/N’s head snapped up to look around. She quickly noticed that she was in front of Bucky’s house. A portal must’ve accidentally opened as she fell. Y/N picked herself up off the ground, debating on whether or not to go back to the palace. Honestly, she really didn’t want to be left alone. But she didn’t want to put Bucky in an awkward position.

Taking a deep breath, Y/N slowly made her way to Bucky’s doorway. There was no real door, just a curtain, so there was no place for her to knock. As quietly as she could, she slipped through the curtain. It surprised her to see a modern kitchen designed to look like it fit in with the clay house. There was a small table near it. Looking the other way, she noticed two other doorways. Taking a brave step, she went over to on of them, peeking through the curtain. It was Bucky’s room. He was seemingly asleep on his bed. Not wanting to wake him, she backed up. As she did, Y/N accidentally pulled on the curtain, causing the rings holding it to the pole to make a sound.

“Who’s there?” Bucky’s voice called out. Y/N froze. “I know someone’s out there.”

Y/N waited a few long seconds before swallowing and answering, “It’s me…” She opened up the curtain to see Bucky sitting up on his bed. “I’m sorry to wake you… I’m just going to leave.”

“No!” He quickly stood up. “Don’t. Is everything okay?”

“I… I’m fine. It’s silly.” She turned to walk away but Bucky quickly halted her with a hand to her arm.

“I’m sure it’s not silly if it brought you here.”

“I… I had a nightmare. But I don’t want to intrude, so I’ll just—“

“You’re staying.” Bucky grabbed Y/N’s hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Y/N shook her head. “Not really. I want to try to go back to sleep.”

“Okay. You can take the bed.”

“I don’t want to push you out of your bed.”

“It’s fine. I can take the flo—“

“Sleep with me.” It was quiet for a couple awkward seconds. “Not like that! Just… I don’t want to push you from your bed. I’ll stay on my side and you stay on yours.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

With a nod, Bucky led Y/N back into his bedroom. He pulled back the blankets and they both slipped into the bed. They both awkwardly laid there, staying on their sides while staring at the ceiling. Eventually though, the warmth radiating off of Bucky’s body, lulled Y/N to sleep, with Bucky slowly following.

next chapter >

NOTES: from now on the taglist when be added by a reblog. I will reblog it using my second account, @just-dreaming-marvel-2. Just so that my main page doesn’t get too cluttered.

If you want to be added to the tag list, please dm me or send in an ask.

#the avengers x reader #avengers x reader #bucky barnes x reader #t'challa x reader #marvel imagine #marvel imagines #avengers imagine #bucky barnes imagine #Bucky Barnes #the winter soldier #the winter soldier x reader

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dumbbitchenergy17 · 4 years

Text

I am Iron Man

Main Masterlist

Tony Stark x Daughter!Reader and Avengers x Stark!Reader

Word Count: 2.7K

Notes: I know it has been a while since I have posted but hooray! I’m not dead, I’ve have been really busy with moving and school work but I will try to start working on more fics. I hope you enjoy this as this was originally an quick imagine but I felt that there should be more. So any request or comments my door is always open.

No one’s POV

Steve stumbled to his feet staring out at the army, one man all on his own

“ap-...-comin-...-ot” A voice crackles out of the comms Steve shakes his head, trying to focus on the voice. Slowly, the sound returns the words ringing out clearly.

“Cap. On your left.” Sam calls out as a portal opens behind Cap causing him to turn and T’challa, Shuri, and Okoye walk on the field while Sam flys out of the portal circling the group. More portals open up as more familiar faces walk out.

Now with men and women ready to fight to save the universe Thanos stares back at them.

Mjolnir is called into Steve’s hand

“Avengers...assemble.”

Across the field as the gauntlet get farther away from Thanos as he is thrown into the air and slammed back down by Wanda

“Rain fire.” Thanos groans outmatched by the witch Corvus Glaive pushes Groot off of him glancing at his leader “But, sire, our troops”

“Just do it!” Thanos yells having his armor destroyed by Wanda. The sanctuary guns aim down onto the battlefield as hell rains down. Wanda looks up quickly building a force field but still getting knocked off her feet. Sakaarans and Jabari and many other heroes go flying.

One of the cannon blast hits the riverbank water now gushing as the bank threatens to collapse “Um, is anyone else seeing this?” Pepper calls out.

Tony, Brue, and Gamora turn to see the bank spilling over. Strange conjure a rune to keep the water from bay of the fight. As the battle continues Peter holds the gauntlet as he is surrounded by outriders

“Activate instant kill!” Peter yells out causing his suit to sprout out legs killing the monsters attacking him. As more attack Peter slowly gets overrun Steve notices throwing Mjolnir “Hey, Queens! Heads up!” Peter latches onto it with his webs getting thrown into the sky but the web is blasted off.

“Hang on, kid. I’ve got you.” Pepper grabs onto him passing him off to Valkyrie

Peter lands onto the Pegasus back as they ride closer to the van “Hey, nice to meet yo-aaaaah!“ They are hit by a blast sending Peter to the ground more explosions keep Peter stuck in the same place as more debris rains down onto the heroes.

Rocket and Groot dive for cover quickly Groot wraps his branches around them both. Suddenly the fire stops as the cannons aim towards the sky and begin firing.

“What the hell is this?” Sam calls out flying over the field. “Friday, what are they firing at?” Tony asks hovering over look up

“Something just entered the upper atmosphere.” The A.I. replies

A comet heads straight for Earth as many fear for what it is. It suddenly veers towards the ships splitting into two as one goes through the bottom and the other goes through side it blowing up the ship. Appearing from the top is Carol Danvers and Y/n Stark the face of her own suit coming up “Hell Yeah!” she cries out throwing her hand up.

“Is that..” Steve calls out looking at Tony as he begins to smile. “That’s my girl.”

Reader’s POV

Both of you and Carol land in front of Steve and Tony

“Dad!” you rush into his arms hugging him. Tony pulls you in pressing a kiss onto you head. “Sunshine I’ve missed you.” You smile stepping back looking at Steve “Cap.” You give him a mock salute.

“Stark, how did you even get here.” Steve looked between you two. “Kree technology is far more advance mix that and a little Stark magic, a boom Space traveling Iron suit. Pretty cool right.” You smile, Tony ruffling your hair.

“I’m not gonna try and comprehend that but we are gonna need an assist.” Steve said

You and Carol look at each other “Roger Roger.” You smirk flying up and landing in front of Peter.

Both you and Carol land in front of a dazed Peter clutching the gauntlet “Uh, hey. I’m Peter Parker.”

“Hey, Peter Parker. You got something for me?” Carol smirks Peter hands it over, staring out at the approaching horde. "I don’t know how you’re gonna get it through all that”

Wanda lands next to you guys “Don’t worry, kid” Peter turns to see Okoye “She’s got help” As you fire up your suit you begin walking out towards the ridge with Carol leading the group Shuri, Gamora, and Nebula appear joining the group. Valkyrie lands next to the group leading her horse towards battle, Pepper lands next to you as Hope sizes up and now all the women make their way towards Thanos’ army.

Wanda and Valkyrie fly up taking out the chitarui leviathan, while Gamora and Nebula stabbing and killing a chitarui gorilla, while the rest of you fight of upcoming aliens and creatures to get close to the van.

Firing at outriders you get thrown back causing Carol to turn back and shoot at the one about to grab you. “Go Carol get to the Van!” You yell waving her to go as you and Pepper turn back to back taking down outriders.

Scott kicks the doors of the van open as the portal comes to life motivating Carol as she tears the army apart as she flies closer. Right about as she is about to reach it Thanos throws his sword at the portal causing it to explode throwing Carol, Thanos, and everyone by it back.

You get up from the blast seeing Tony, Steve, and Thor fight for the gauntlet. Thanos squeezes the crushed gauntlet on him but Thor and Steve grab onto him trying to pull it off, but get thrown off, Tony rushes over but gets thrown off as well. Quickly flying over to Thanos before he can snap Carol grabs his hand as you blast him in the leg causing him to fall down.

Thanos throws you back causing you to scrap against the ground. “Carol!” you cry out seeing her get thrown back by the power stone. Rushing over you fire at him causing him to stumble. Thanos throws a punch which makes you dodge blasting at him with your repulsors and firing missile after missile.

Thanos finally gets the upper hand grabbing you by the neck slamming you into the ground, ripping off your faceplate before pounding his fist into your face.

“No!” Tony yells out trying to get over to you but is thrown back

Trying to defend yourself was useless as you are slammed further into the ground. You get lifted up blood spilling down your face as you struggle to keep your eyes open “I admire you, you are just like your father.” Thanos says before throwing you off to the side. Steve rushing over to you as you try to push yourself up but fall back down.

Leaning on Steve you look and see your father rush towards him grabbing onto the gauntlet before getting thrown off.

“Dad...” You wheeze out trying to get up but are pushed back down “Stand down Y/n” Steve tells you.

Thanos lifts his hand in the air to deliver everyone's fate “I am...inevitable.” he snaps his fingers but nothing happens. Everyone watches as Thanos turns the glove over and see that the stones are gone.

You look over and see your father sitting up as the gems slide up his arm to his hand making his own gauntlet. Tony flinches as the power surges through him “Dad.” You try to get up but are held back

Tony looks smiles at you before looking at Thanos

“And I...am Iron Man.”

The tidal wave turns to mists as everyone is overwhelmed from the blast of power. Sitting up next to Steve and seeing Sakaarans, Outriders, and Chitauri turn to ash. Thanos army beginning to fall down and fade away like many of you did five years ago.

You watch as Thanos turn and see his army fade away. He sits on a pile of stone and then fades to ash. Looking back you find your father missing “Dad?” You call out Steve helping you up as you both try to look for Tony

“Y/n” You hear Pepper call out she you look and see she has tears in her eyes

“Pep” you whisper as she ushers you over where Peter is getting pulled away by Rhodey. You gasp looking over at him his entire right side was burned as he wheezes, his eyes dazed.

You sit down next to him “Hey, Friday, what’ve we got?” You mumble “Life functions critical.” You look down as a tear slide downs you face. A hand wipes it away

“Hey Sunshine.” Tony rasp “Please don’t go.” You cry into his chest his hand petting your hair “I’m sorry.” he whispers tears sliding down his face. Pepper comes over and sits next to you.

Pepper grabs Tony’s free hand “Tony, look at me. We’re going to be okay...” He stares at her, tears welling. She touches his face, then leans in to kiss him.

“You can rest now.” When Pepper pulls back, she sees his eyes, fixed and glassy.

“I love you dad.” You hold onto him as his hand on your head becomes lightly until it falls of your head onto the ground. You cry when his hand falls off letting you know the worse has happen. Your sobs flood the battlefield as you cling to your father’s body.

Slowly you were pulled away by Pepper and you turn to cry into her chest. Pepper holds onto you struggling to be strong in front of you. Everything goes quiet. All around, the heroes drop to a knee the full weight of what’s happened dawning on them.

Tony Stark is gone.

“Everybody wants a happy ending. But it doesn’t always roll that way. Maybe this time. I’m hoping if you play this back, it’s in celebration. I hope families are reunited, I hope we get it back and something like a normal version of the planet has been restored. If there ever was such a thing. God, what a world. Universe, now. If you’d told me ten years ago that we weren’t alone, let alone to this extent, I probably wouldn’t have been surprised. But come on... Who knew what epic forces of dark and light would come into play? For better or worse, that’s the reality our children get to grow up in. They throw themselves into his arms.”

This was your first time you had be home and it didn’t feel like home anymore, you, and many of Tony’s close friends and family were sat in the living watching a hologram that was filmed prior to his death.

“That’s why I thought I’d probably better record a little greeting, in the case of…an untimely death on my part. I mean, death at any time is untimely, but...this “time travel” thing we’re going to try to pull off tomorrow has me scratching my head about the “survivability” of it all. But that’s the hero gig, right? Part of the journey is the end and I know that Y/n is out there helping people out in space which I couldn’t be more proud of.” hearing your name causes you to look up and smile. Tony continues running a hand through his hair before standing up and moving closer

“What am I even tripping for? Everything is going to work out exactly the way it’s supposed to.” Tony looks out at the his family “I love you 3000,” directed towards Morgan before somehow looking straight at you, “and I love you Sunshine.” He switches off the camera, vanishing. Looking straight at the Iron Man helmet and you feel nothing, Pepper kisses Morgan’s forehead and grabbing your hand as you both trying to process everything.

You hold Morgan hand as you, Pepper, and Morgan descend down the porch stairs. Pepper holds a wreath of flower as your fellow avengers follow behind you. Standing at the edge of the deck Pepper kneels down and rest the flower in the water resting on top of it was Tony’s first arc reactor with “Proof That Tony Stark Has A Heart” a gift Tony got from Pepper when you were eight.

Pepper stands up and her and Morgan make their way back inside people given there condolences. Most of the guest had went back inside but some stay as you are still frozen in place and numb by everything. Carol gives you a hug while T’Challa, Scott, and Hope give you their condolences before walking back. The guardians each give their sorrows before leaving. Sam, Bucky, and Wanda each give you a hug but you stay still they give a frown to each other before walking back.

“I’m sorry Y/n it was the only way.” Strange says placing a hand onto your shoulder before walking back. Peter and his aunt come up to you Peter squeezing you hand “I’m sorry Y/n” he mumbles before following his aunt.

Rhodey, Clint, and the rest of the avengers left realizing that there was not use to get you to talk. Until there was only Steve left, he walks over to the edge of the deck as Tony’s wreath slowly drifting further into the lake.

“Y/n, I know that Tony wouldn’t want you to become like this now that he is gone and you are going to have to move on sometime.” he goes to grab your hand but you whip around causing him to see your sunken eyes and bloodshot with how much crying you have done.

“You of all people Steve do not get to tell me I’m gonna to have to move, when you caused a civil war over you not-dead best friend. I don’t hate Bucky but you of all people should understand what I’m going through.” You spat out each time you spoke you shoved him back until he is at end of the deck closer to the house.

“I will never be able to move on. He was my main supporter and was always there for me and now he’s gone and I will never be the same.” You choke out, Steve frowns pulling you into a hug as you cry more into his shirt as it slowly gets wet.

After a few minutes you are all out of tears you step away rubbing your eyes and taking a deep breath. “Sorry I ruined your shirt.” You sniffled pointing at ruined shirt. He shrugs buttoning up his blazer “It’s fine.” flashing you smile that makes you feel better about it

“Soo... is this the end for the great Captain America?” you smile nudge him causing Steve to laugh.

“Yeah, I think it’s time for this old man to get his dance,” He confesses and then he sniffles “Oh my god are you crying.” You laugh causing him to quickly wipe his tears.

“No it’s just allergies.” he clears his throat all choked up You smile both of you looking out at the water “You know since you’re stepping down Sam would make a pretty good Cap.” you said

Steve nods before smoothing his jacket “Maybe, so you ready to head inside,” he nods towards the house, “Uh yeah just give me a minute and I’ll be in.” You say straighten out your shirt.

Steve squeezes you hand before turning and heading inside leaving you alone on the dock. You walk further to the edge of the deck and look out onto the lake the sun slowly setting casting a glow on the water

“I’m gonna miss you.” You say out loud. “He knows,” A voice replies making you turn and see Nick Fury standing a bit away from you. “When I asked him to join the Avengers the only reason he joined was you,” You look down at your shoes hearing his footsteps get closer, “He joined to protect the people but also to protect you, you were his everything and he knew when he was gone that you would be able to make the right decision.” He placed a hand on your shoulder before holding out a folder with Shield printed across it,

“And I know that if anyone else were to have this title it would be you.” You flip reading the subject ‘Avengers: Next Gen’ with names listen ‘Kamala Khan, Marc Spector, Jennifer Walters, Yelena Belova, and Shang-Chi’ “And what does this mean with?” you ask Nick smirked

“You tell me Y/n or should I say Iron Man.” You looked back and the file, “Wait bu-” you turn back and see that Fury is gone, “He always does that.” you smile

The Next Avengers,

New Hope...

And you were Iron Man.

#avengers masterlist #avengers x reader #x stark!reader #tony stark x daughter!reader #steve rogers x stark!reader #avengers x stark!reader #iron man #avengers endgame

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gladdygirl18 · 3 years

Text

Holiday Laughs and Cheer

This was requested by @ticklefiend26. Thx so much 4 the suggestion! I had a blast writing this! Happy Holidays!

Summary: This will be Peter’s first Christmas with the Avengers and another Christmas without his Uncle Ben, so he was kind of feeling a little low on Christmas spirit. Being the father-figure he is, Tony knew exactly how to cheer up the young web-slinging hero.

Word Count: 1769

The Holiday season is finally here. The time for caroling, decorating trees, playing in the snow, and most importantly, spending time with family. The Avengers family is no exception. The Avengers look forward to this time every year. Everyone comes to the facility a week before Christmas to decorate the facility and the tree, buy gifts, and to simply be with one another. Clint, Steve, Natasha, Bruce, and Bucky are on cooking duty. Thor, Rhodey, Tony, Wanda, and Sam are on decorating duty.

Carol couldn’t make it because there was an emergency on another planet, even though she would’ve loved to sing Christmas carols (pun intended); Scott would’ve love to come, but he wanted to spend Christmas with Cassie since he couldn’t for 5 years; T’Challa had a kingdom to rule. There was one Avenger who couldn’t wait to spend Christmas with his teammates, and that was young Peter Parker. Yes, young Peter has been looking forward to this time ever since January. Peter loved everything about the holidays.

However, Peter wasn’t... Peter this time around. He had agreed to help Tony and the others decorate the facility and the tree, but he’s been cooped up in his room all day. No one knows what's eating him and preventing him from leaving his room. The others started to grow worried.

“Where’s the kid? He said he’d help out, and it’s 4 in the afternoon.” Sam asked.

“I have no idea.” Bucky said.

The Falcon looked at the others and they just shrugged their shoulders. Tony let out a sigh and set down a half-wrapped present. Standing up, he cleared his throat and started to leave the room.

“Where are you going, Tony?” Clint asked.

“To look for the kid and make sure he’s all right.” Tony said, leaving the room.

Once Tony was gone, the others looked at one another with faces of concern and worry. When Tony made it to Peter’s room, he knocked on the door and waited for an answer. Nothing. Tony knocked once more. Still nothing. Turning the doorknob, he pushed the door open and was met with a dim-lit room. Scanning the room, Tony saw his protégé laying on his side, his back facing him. Tony breathed out and walked up to the young Avenger.

“Peter...?” Tony asked, shaking the kid’s shoulder.

The kid moaned and shrugged off his mentor’s hand.

“Peter, what’s wrong? You haven’t left your room all day. Everyone’s worried about you; I’m worried about you... Talk to me...” Tony said, sitting on the teen’s bed.

Peter sighed and quickly wiped away the tears that started to form.

“I miss him...” Peter said.

Tony pulled away, wondering who Peter could be talking about.

“Who? Ned? You two talk more than Steve, Sam, and Bucky when they get into an argument.” Tony joked.

Peter didn’t even react to joke. Tony frowned at his failed attempt to brighten the teen’s spirit.

“My Uncle Ben...” Peter muttered.

Tony’s concerned expression quickly turned to a look sympathy. Tony knew good and well about what happened to his uncle, and to not have him during this time of year, again, must be hard. For a short time, Tony felt this way when his parents were killed. Now, he has a new family to call his own, and every day, Tony and the others always try to remind Peter that he is not alone; that he has a place; that he has a home; that he has a family. Now, more than ever, Peter needed this family.

“I know how you feel kid, and I’m sorry. Really, I am.” Tony said, placing a hand on the kid’s shoulder.

Peter breathed out a sigh and shifted his position to get more comfortable. Tony hated seeing him like this. If anything, when it was either him or one of the others, whenever they were upset, just Peter being in their presence will make them smile and forget why they were in a foul mood. Now, it was Tony’s turn to turn this teen’s frown upside-down. Luckily, Tony knew exactly how to do that. He just needed to bait the kid in.

“C’mon, kid. Don’t you wanna help us decorate this place. We could really use your help when it comes to hanging certain decorations,” Tony said.

“Thanks, but no thanks, Mr. Stark... I would like to be left alone if that’s all right with you...” Peter said, his voice sounding so sad.

“No, I’m not all right with that... I’ll give you a choice: you either leave this room smiling and help out the others and I, or do I have to make you smile and leave?”

Peter glanced at his mentor and rolled his eyes with a scoff.

“Do your worst...” Peter challenged tiredly.

Tony couldn’t help but smile at Peter’s sassiness. Cracking his knuckles, Tony started poking around the teen’s sides. Peter breathed in sharp and shifted away from Tony’s fingers. Seeing that the kid wasn’t going to crack, Tony started digging his into the kid’s side. Peter buried his face into the pillow he was clutching, all while letting out adorable giggles.

“Mr. Stahahahahark! Stohohop!” Peter said, his words muffled.

“Sorry, kid. Did you say something? I can’t quite understand you.” Tony said, inching his fingers towards Peter’s belly.

Peter squealed and his giggles started becoming louder.

“Honestly, Pete. I really can’t tell if you’re laughing or crying right now.” Tony said with a smug-eating smirk.

Once Tony’s fingers found Peter’s belly, Peter rolled over on his belly to stop the tickling, only trapping Tony’s hand underneath him.

“Bad move, kid...” Tony said.

Taking advantage, Tony straddled the kid and started attacking the kid’s torso. Peter bucked and thrashed, all while producing his signature giggles. At this point, the pillow Peter was clutching was already off the bed.

“Mr. Stahahahahahahark! Plehehehehehehease stohohohohop!” Peter cried.

“No way, mister. I’m gonna make sure that smile of yours is plastered on your face for the rest of the evening while you’re helping out.” Tony said, kneading the kid’s hip bone.

Peter yelped and tried to buck Tony off.

“That feheheheheheels sohoho weird! Stohohop ihihit!” Peter begged.

“Are you gonna leave this dreadful room and come join me and the others?” Tony asked.

When Peter didn’t answer, Tony took his silence as a no. Sighing, Tony stopped his assault and looked down at the young hero.

“Didn’t want to have to do this to you, kid, but you leave me no choice.” Tony said.

Peter panted as he glanced up at his mentor.

“W-Whahahat can behehe worse thahan tickling?” Peter asked, giggles escaping his lips.

Tony smirked and was able to flip the kid around on his back.

“I think you know...” Tony said.

Peter sighed and shook his head tiredly. That’s when Peter let out a loud shriek before letting out gales of precious laughter.

“NOHOHOHO! NOHOHOT MY ARMPIHIHIHIHITS! STAHAHAHAP!” Peter cried.

“Sorry, Pete, but it’s for your own good.” Tony said as he clawed at the kid’s armpits.

Peter thrashed all around the bed trying to escape, but his laughter was making him weak.

“MR. STAHAHAHARK! PLEHEHEHEASE!” Peter begged.

“Ah-ah-ah. No can do, Spiderman. I wanna hear you say that you’ll spend time with the others and I. Say that, and I’ll stop,” Tony said.

“IHIHIHIHIHI CAHAHAHAHAN’T!”

“Why’s that now?”

“BEHEHECAHAHAUSE!”

“Because what?”

When Peter didn’t answer, Tony slipped his fingers through Peter’s T-shirt sleeves and started attacking the flesh underneath. Peter fell limp with laughter. He didn’t even have the strength to thrash around.

“STAHAHAHAHAP! PLEHEHEHEHEASE! NOHOHO MOHOHOHOHORE!” Peter begged.

“Did you say you wanted more? Well, since you asked so nicely...” Tony said.

Dipping his head down, Tony blew a huge raspberry on Peter’s belly that had been exposed due to the thrashing. Peter gave a wild buck and let out a new stream of laughter, his face turning a bright red.

“NAHAHAHA! THAT’S NOT FAHAHAHAIR! STAHAHAHAP IT!” Peter said.

“Kid, when it comes to tickling, anything and everything is fair.” Tony said before letting loose another raspberry.

Peter flopped around like a fish out of water. If Tony didn’t stop, he was surely going to pass out. Peter soon realized why Tony was really tickling him. Not only was he cheering him up, but he was also reminding him that even when he feels alone, the Avengers, his family, was there for him, day, and night.

“OKAY, OKAHAHAHAHAHAY! I’LL HEHEHEHEHELP! JUST STAHAHAHAP!” Peter laughed.

“You promise...?” Tony asked, clawing at the armpit flesh.

Peter threw his head back and let out a new stream of laughter that was louder than the last. Now this was the Peter Parker Tony had grown to know and love. Smiling and laughing without a care in the world. Seeing him frowning and crying, it just didn’t sit right with him or any of the other Avengers.

“YEHEHEHEHES! OH, GOHOHOHOD YEHEHEHES! I PROHOHOHOMISE! JUST STAHAHAHAP! I CAHAHAHAN’T TAHAHAHAKE IHIHIT!” Peter cried.

Tony released one more raspberry before stopping completely. Tony hopped off Peter and started down at his smiling and panting protégé. Chuckling, Tony opened the door and looked back at the kid.

“You have five minutes. Otherwise, I’ll come back with Sam, Bucky, and Clint.” Tony warned before leaving the room.

Peter sat up and panted, wiping the sweat from his brow. Looking up, he smiled with a tear in his eye.

“Happy Holidays, Uncle Ben...” he said softly.

Wiping away the tears, Peter freshened up before heading into the common room. When he arrived, he saw Rhodey struggling to get a decoration on the ceiling. Smiling, Peter walked over to help.

“Let me.” Peter said.

Rhodey smiled down at the teen and gave him the decoration. Flipping on the ceiling, Peter was able to hang the decoration and hold it in place with his webbing.

“Thanks, kid.” Rhodey said.

Peter gave War Machine a quick salute before coming down from the ceiling. Walking into the common room, Peter began helping the others, just like he said he would.

“So, what did you tell him to get out?” Bucky asked.

“If he didn’t get his lazy butt out of bed, I would’ve called you, Sam, and Clint for help.” Tony said with a wink.

Bucky looked at the kid who was helping Wanda hanging ornaments on the tree and smiled.

“I’m still willing to help...” Bucky said with a sly grin.

One thing’s for sure, whether you feel like you’re alone, you will always have your family for support. Peter had forgotten that, but thanks to Tony, he remembered that he has this amazing family will never leave him.

✨🎄🎁From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!🎁🎄✨

#avengers fic #tickle fic #ler!tony #lee!peter #request

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natrogersfics · 3 years

Text

After All - Chapter 5/5

Cover art by @faith2nyc Read on AO3

Natasha’s always prided herself in being a master at regulating her emotions. Years of field experience as a journalist has allowed her to hone the skill of taking a step back, drawing in a deep breath, and powering through the job. For regardless of how she personally felt about the matter at hand or how much she despised the person she was interviewing, the objective was to report the unadulterated facts. Right now, though, as she stands in Isabel’s room watching as Loki finishes suturing Isabel’s brow while Steve – who had to step in her place as Loki injected the anesthetic – holds her still, it’s as if her training cannot meet the moment.

Motherhood has transformed her in many ways, but one of the most notable changes is that she’s become a constant worrier. Some days the worry is dull, manageable – propelled by something as simple as whether or not Isabel’s had enough water to drink for the day. Nevertheless, the feeling is always underlying. But there are moments where such is its intensity that breathing becomes arduous, and in spite of the fact that Isabel’s cries have since tapered, she finds that this is one of those times.

“Okay,” Loki says in that saccharine tone she only ever hears him use when addressing Isabel. “That’s a wrap on these pesky needles.” He leans forward, tapping Isabel on the nose and eliciting a tired smile from the little girl. “Good job, Miss Isabel. My best patient without question.”

“She’s going to be okay, right?” Steve asks before she can, and she notes how tight his voice sounds as Isabel turns in his arms and snuggles into the crook of his neck.

“Yes, she will be,” Loki says without a hint of reluctance as he nods at Steve before turning to where she’s standing by the door. “Her reflexes are fine, and she isn’t exhibiting any signs of a concussion. Battle wound notwithstanding, she’s alright.”

The sigh she lets out at Loki’s words is loaded with relief. But the sensation is fleeting, replaced quickly by surprise when she hears Steve speak again. “Thank you, Loki.”

Loki nods once more, a little smile on his face as he balls up the remaining gauze and sutures and throws it into the bin. “The little one should get some rest, so I’ll see myself out,” he says, rising from his seat with his kit in his hands. “I’ll check up on her again in the morning.”

“I’ll walk you out,” she says, stealing a glance to where Steve is rocking Isabel to sleep before stepping out into the hall.

The living room is empty as they make it out, and as she and Loki silently walk towards the direction of her foyer, she catches sight of the note on her dining table with T’Challa’s familiar handwriting. While she feels terribly about having ruined their Christmas Eve, a part of her is glad that she does not have to face them too right at this moment. She lets out a sigh for what seems to be the millionth time in the last hour, turning back to Loki just as they reach her front door.

“Quite an evening, huh?” Loki says, smirking.

In spite of his attempt at humor, she finds that she can only look down. “Loki…” she says. “I-”

“She’s going to be okay, Nat,” Loki says, placing a hand on her arm.

“No, I know.” She looks up at him to find his eyebrows knitted together in question. “I trust you,” she says in clarification. “I trust your assessment. What I meant to say is I’m sorry. I’m sorry for tonight and for how Steve acted when you were just trying to help. I don’t know what happened.” She shakes her head. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”

Loki chuckles quietly, a soft smile forming on his lips when she only stares blankly at him in response. “Is this love, Miss Romanoff?” he asks. “Because it sure looks a lot like it.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she says, practically scoffing. Loki arches a brow at her, and she sighs. “If tonight's any indication-”

“If tonight's any indication, it’s that there’s obviously a lot that’s been left unsaid,” Loki finishes, shaking his head. “Natasha, my darling, forgive me if I sound like a broken record at this point. But you’re truly one of the brightest people I have had the pleasure of knowing, rivaling perhaps only my own mother for the top spot, so I know it’s only a matter of time.” He reaches to cup her face, running his thumb along her cheekbone. “Open your eyes and listen. For all our sakes.”

“Loki…” she whispers, holding his gaze.

With a smile, Loki leans down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Merry Christmas, Nat.”

“Merry Christmas,” she repeats, mustering a smile as he turns and leaves.

As the door closes behind him, she pads back to the living room, making it as far as the couch until her legs feel too heavy to make it a step further. She sits down, putting her head in her hands as her shoulders sag with fatigue from the last few days. How a night that started out on such a high note devolved so quickly, she can’t begin to process. But if she knows one thing, it’s that she can’t take much more of this.

“Natasha.”

She looks up at the sound of her name to see Steve standing where the hallway and the living room meet. “Is she asleep?”

“Yes,” he says, moving closer to her. “Nat-”

“Do you know that Izzie has trouble sleeping?” she interrupts, rising to her feet to see him stopped in his tracks. He blinks in surprise, and she nods. “Yeah, there are nights when she’s practically inconsolable… That is until I play her a video with the two of you.” She chuckles humorlessly. “At first I thought it was just a coincidence. And admittedly, there’s a tiny part of me that was wishing that maybe by the time I cave and reach for my phone, that she’s already tired herself out enough to go to sleep. But then I realized that she hasn’t had an episode since you arrived.” She sighs, looking him right in the eyes. “She’s your daughter. I know that. God, if I don’t see that in every little thing she does, every single day. And if there’s ever a time that I made you feel like that wasn’t the case, I am so deeply sorry. That was never my intention. But this?” She shakes her head. “I’m incredibly exhausted, Steve. And not just from tonight. All these years, all I’ve been doing is adjusting to what you want-”

“Excuse me?” he practically spits out, his eyes wide. “What I want?”

“Yes, what you want!” she volleys back bitterly. “You wanted a no-strings-attached arrangement, you got it. Wanted in on our daughter’s life? Check. You wanted to come here for Christmas? I said fine.” She straightens her shoulders, raising her chin. “So, tell me, Steve. What exactly is your problem this time? Because I want this to work, but I am at the end of my rope here.” She sighs, her voice falling to a whisper. “I have nothing left to give you.”

“Nothing left to give me,” he mouths the words, incredulous. “Natasha, all I’ve ever wanted was for you to give me a chance!”

She scoffs. “You’ve had several years’ worth of chances to take, Steve, and I’ve been waiting just as long for even the faintest sign that you wanted one!”

“How was I supposed to know that when all you do is walk away?” he challenges. His words bring her to a pause, and as she stands frozen in place, all she can do is blink. He sighs. “Natasha, I thought everything was going well until that morning in my apartment-”

“Don’t you dare!” she says, throwing her hands out in frustration as she cuts him off. “I woke up to find your ex-fiancée thanking you for selling her back the house you bought together. The very same house that you told me you saw yourself raising a family in. What did you want me to do? Wait around for you to break the news to me when it was clearly standing right at your front door?”

“I wanted you to let me explain!” he says. “Because if you did, then I would have told you that I didn’t sell the house back to Sharon because I didn’t love you and didn’t see a life with you. I did it because I did!” He pauses, sucking in a breath to compose himself. “I didn’t want us to start a life together in a place that I wanted for all the wrong reasons.” He shrugs, defeated. “But then you were serving me a custody agreement so fast my head spun, and then there you were taking the job here before I even had time to recover.”

“I asked you if I had a reason to stay,” she says quietly.

“You did,” he concedes with a nod. “And I should have been brave enough to tell you that you did.” He sighs. “But that doesn’t matter anymore, does it? Because you’ve moved on.”

Her eyebrows furrow. “Moved on?”

“Yeah, Nat,” he says. “And you’re damn good at it, too. All you keep doing is moving on, it seems. You’re over me, over us, over New York. And then you’re here, moving on with him-”

“Wait, what?” she interjects.

“Loki,” he says simply, exasperation seeping into his tone. “Look, I’m sorry about how I’ve been acting, but- are you laughing?” His head tilts to the side, and as her laughter escalates, he looks at her like she’s lost her mind. “You’re laughing right now?”

“That’s what this is about?” she says, nearly breathless. “That’s the reason you’ve been acting like a crazy person these last two days?”

“I…” he trails, his forehead wrinkling. “Nat, he has a key to your flat, he’s in your kitchen... He calls you darling.” He scoffs. “I mean, Izzie practically rushes into his arms every time she sees him! And I don’t know how far into your relationship you two are- I mean, I can assume, I suppose. But even if he hasn’t told you, as the world’s leading expert on what it’s like to be in love with you, I’m telling you right now that he is.” His eyes are full of sincerity as he looks at her. “You’re you, Nat. It’s outrageously hard not to love you. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

The fog clears, taking with it all the questions and the doubt that’s plagued her in the last couple of years almost instantly as she stares at him and takes in his words. “Okay,” she says, chuckling as she rubs the back of her neck. “Steve, I’m alone. A lot. Yes, I have Izzie. But after a while, there’s only so much you can talk to a toddler about.” She pauses, and he nods silently in agreement. “And quite frankly, between parenting and working, I don’t get around much, so I don’t have that many friends here. T’Challa? Nakia? They’re out of town, travelling for the paper, as they should be. I see Pepper, what? Once a month if we’re lucky?” She sighs. “Loki’s the only person I can talk to these days because he lives next door and works weird hours. Heck, the only reason we even started talking was because I saw that he liked the same wine and I found out that we agree that men can be the absolute worst-”

“Natasha, I get it,” he interrupts, shaking his head. “And I’m so glad you’ve had someone to talk to. That you’ve found a confidante-”

“Yeah…” she says, raising a brow. “Because it really gets rough out here when men only seem to break our” – she makes sure to emphasize the last word, watching his reaction carefully – “hearts.”

“Right, I know,” he says. “He put you back together when all I did was hurt you. And while I’m devastated to have missed out on the chance to be with you, because I am still, and have always been insanely in love with you, I really do get it. I do. Loki’s a great guy. He’s dreamy, and for crying out loud, he saves babies! And fig loves him. I know that. I’ve accepted it. And the accent…”

“For God’s sake, Rogers,” she mutters, crossing the distance between them. He’s still ranting when she makes it to him, cupping his face in her hands as she pulls him down to her. He groans in surprise when her lips meet his, but just as he begins to respond to her kiss, she pulls away. “Loki’s gay, Steve.”

For a moment, he only stares at her, lust and confusion swirling in his blue orbs all at once. “Oh…” he says, blinking. His brows furrow as he parts his lips as if to say something, only to press them back into a line. “Oh.”

She bites back a smile. “Yeah… the guy he was seeing broke up with him around the same time Izzie and I moved here.”

“Well, that guy’s dumb…” he mumbles, cringing as he adds, “not unlike me.” His eyes are wide as he turns to her, his expression sheepish. “Why didn’t you just say so?”

“Because that’s not really my information to share,” she points out, to which he nods in concession. “Plus, how was I supposed to know that you wanted to be together too?”

“Too?” he clarifies. “So, I’m not too late?”

“Oh, my God,” she says indignantly. She steps closer to him once more, clutching the collar of his sweater in her hands as she looks right into his eyes. “I am still, and have always been, insanely in love with you too, you big oaf! I-”

Her words are cut off when he lowers his head to slant his lips over hers, his hands falling to her hips to pull her flush to him. Whereas their first kiss had been chaste, this one is hungry, needy – quickly growing teeth and making her head spin in no time at all when she tastes the combination of wine and something wholly and distinctly Steve. She snakes her arms around his neck, rising onto the tips of her toes to card her fingers through his hair, tugging at the ends. He moans her name longingly at that, and she smiles at the way his lips chase hers when she pulls away momentarily, a teasing comment already making its way to the tip of her tongue. But before she can say it, he bends at the knees, scooping her into his arms as he captures her lips in another searing kiss. Then like a practiced dance, she wraps her legs around his waist, letting him walk them down the hall and into her bedroom.

The second he walks in, she sets her feet down, placing her hands flat on his chest and pushing him towards the bed. He falls back onto it, a laugh escaping him as he bounces slightly, but it lasts but a second as she straddles his lap and her lips find his again.

“Natasha,” he says breathlessly between kisses, his hands covering hers as they find their way under his sweater. “Nat, wait-”

“It’s fine,” she says, guiding his hand up her arm and pressing down to let him feel where her implant is as she continues to kiss a trail down his jaw and to his neck. “I’m safe, and there hasn’t been anyone since you.”

The groan he lets out in response is almost pained, and she gasps in surprise when he flips them over, his pupils blown wide as he stares down at her. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Me?” she asks, flummoxed. “You’re the one flying here, showing up in your stupid leather jacket and then parading around my flat without a shirt on!” Her eyes narrow. “Do you have any idea how many cold showers I’ve taken in the last few days?”

His mouth twists into an amused grin. “I told you, Izzie ruined my shirt,” he says, reaching up to brush the hair out of her eyes. “And for the record, there hasn’t been anyone since you, either.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” she asks, desperation slipping into her tone as she squirms underneath him. “Less talking, more stripping!”

He chuckles, and in spite of her patience waning, she finds herself grinning at the sound. “You, Natasha Romanoff, would test the patience of a saint.”

“Did you get canonized recently or something?” she asks, huffing out a breath when he rolls his eyes at her. “Don’t you think we’ve waited long enough?”

“I know, baby,” he whispers, leaning down to kiss her again. “And you have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” He shakes his head. “How much I want you.” Even as his eyes have grown dark and stormy, the pining in them is as clear as day, making the blood sing in her veins. “But I don’t want to rush this, Nat. I want to start over. I want-” He pauses, taking in a deep breath. “I need to get this right.”

“But it is right.” She moves to sit up, prompting him to sit back on his knees. “Steve, I thought that everything that happened between us was proof that we were a mistake, that everything I’ve been holding onto was a lie.” He looks down at his lap, his expression twisting as if he’s reliving the pain of the last couple of years all over again. “Hey, look at me,” she says, reaching over to hook a finger under his chin, tilting his head up. “I was wrong.” She shakes her head. “The last twenty-four hours notwithstanding, I haven’t been as happy as I’ve been these last few days in a long, long time. I won’t speak for you, but-”

“It’s the same for me,” he interrupts without a trace of hesitation in his voice, holding her gaze. “Exactly the same, Nat.”

She smiles. “Then if there’s something I know for sure now, it’s that you, me… fig. It’s right. It’s always been right.” She sighs, running her thumb over his jawline. “I love you, Steve. I want to be with you. So please, no more waiting. No more wasting time.”

It takes a beat, but then he’s surging forward to kiss her, pushing her onto her back once more as her arms wrap around his neck. “I love you,�� he whispers against her lips. “I love you so damn much.”

“Then show me,” she says, smiling when with a groan, he pulls away and lets his hands trail to the hem of her blouse, pulling it up and off of her. She leans up on her elbows as he sits back again, letting her gaze trail hungrily down his chest and to the smooth planes of his stomach as he reaches behind him to rid himself of his sweater.

“See something you like?” he asks, smirking when he catches her staring.

She peers up at him from underneath her lashes. “More like something I need.”

“Good,” he says, causing the breath to get caught in her throat at the way his eyes flash. “So do I.”

He brings his lips back to hers, reaching behind her to undo the clasp of her bra, and she slides it off her arms when it comes loose around her before throwing it unceremoniously to the floor. Gently, he pushes her shoulder, guiding her back down as he peppers kisses down the column of her throat and lets his hands wander over her torso. He cups the swell of her breast, ghosting a thumb over her nipple, and she feels him smile against her skin at the gasp that slips from her lips.

“Steve.” She sighs his name brokenly when his mouth moves from her neck to her sternum, worshipping every inch of skin it finds in its trail. It’s when his lips hover past her navel, his fingers hooking into the waistband of her leggings that she places her hands over his, keeping them in place.

He moves back up her body to look her in the eyes. “Let me,” he says the same time she tells him he does not have to, and as she blinks up at him, chest heaving, he smiles softly. “Can I, Nat?”

There’s an undercurrent of desperation in the way he asks the question, as if he needs this – craves this – and despite how much she aches to feel him against her, to have his skin against hers, when she takes in the unadulterated desire in his eyes, she finds herself powerless to do anything but nod. She lets go of his hands, biting her lip in anticipation as he moves back down her body. Cool air skims over her newly exposed skin as he pulls her leggings down along with her panties, making her shiver as her heart picks up in her chest, and she gasps when he presses a kiss to the inside of her thigh, propping one of her legs over his shoulder.

“Steve,” she moans loudly – wantonly – into the darkness of the room when he licks up her center. Her head falls to the side, her hands scrambling for purchase on the duvet as a litany of curses slip from her lips, and that’s all he needs to hear to bring his hands to her waist, holding her still as he flicks his tongue against her bundle of nerves. The sensation that pulses through her is almost too much too fast, but her body craves it all the same, and she bites her lip to keep from laughing out. It’s pathetic that he has her teetering off the edge this quickly, this suddenly, but at the same time, she’s not surprised. He learned her body long ago, and she’s infinitely glad that in spite of the time that’s passed since they’ve last been together like this, he still knows it like the back of his hand. It’s when he pushes two fingers into her, curling them as they work in tandem with his tongue that she finally keens, her vision a white-hot blur as she calls out his name.

“Hi,” he whispers when she finally opens her eyes moments later, her heart still ringing in her ears. “You still with me?” His lips turn up in a boyish smile when she nods. “Good.”

He pulls away from her, and despite her first orgasm still coursing hotly through her veins, she whines at the loss of contact. “Steve.”

“I’m here, Nat,” he says, returning to bracket her body with his own after making short work of his pants. When she attempts to pull him down to her, he chuckles. “Remind me again where Izzie got her impatience from?”

“Want you,” she says, ignoring his quip and not caring one bit about how desperate her tone has gotten. “Want you now.” He smiles, but it’s quickly replaced by a groan when she reaches between them, wrapping a hand around his length.

“Fuck,” he all but growls, his eyes slamming shut as she begins to pump her hand up and then down. “Natasha.”

“Please,” she says, her breath hot against his ear, and that’s all she has to say to make him shift his weight onto his forearms as she guides him to her entrance, hissing when he brushes up against her. A gasp falls from her lips, her toes curling into the sheets as he begins to sink into her, inch by inch, and it isn’t until he’s bottomed out that she realizes how much she’s missed this feeling – how much she’s missed him. He leans down, brushing her lips with his own, and making her crave the friction that much more. “Steve,” she calls out, digging her nails into his back. He looks down at her, his jaw clenched, and only then does it dawn on her that he’s stilled for her benefit. “It’s okay,” she promises as his eyes search hers for affirmation. She smiles. “Move, baby.”

With a nod, he begins to roll his hips, drawing out a mewl from her as his lips find her collarbone. She knows there’ll be marks tomorrow, but she can’t bring herself to care. The lazy snap of his hips coupled with the warmth of his mouth on her skin as he nips and teases is addictive, dizzying, and she wants more. She needs more. With that, she wraps her legs around his waist, pushing the heels of her feet into his lower back, encouraging him to go deeper, faster. He groans, the last of his restraint seemingly crumbling when he intertwines their fingers and pins their hands above her head, picking up the pace and making her gasp at the delicious shift in angle.

Pleasure curls in her gut in no time at all, coiling tightly, and it isn’t until he’s shushing her gently that she realizes her moans have grown louder. “I’ve got you,” he says, whispering the words and other sweet nothings into her lips again and again. “I’ve got you, Nat. With me, okay?”

She manages a nod, catching the smile that forms on his lips. And then he’s slipping a hand down between them, making her back bow off the mattress as he thumbs at her bundle of nerves. Her belly clenches as pleasure pulses rapidly through every synapse, every nerve, and though she could feel it coming, a surprised gasp still slips from her lips when her orgasm washes over her, stealing the air right out of her lungs. He kisses her as she tumbles over the edge, pushing into her once, twice, and then with a grunt, he goes still, following her right into the abyss.

Quiet settles over them, their labored breathing the only sound as they come down from their highs. Her body hasn’t completely stopped trembling when he pulls out of her, eliciting a whimper from her as he brushes against her still sensitive flesh, and he kisses her temple consolingly as he shifts onto his back and pulls her to him.

“I’m sorry,” he says later on when their breathing comes back to normal. She lifts her head off his chest to look at him, her eyebrows knitting when she finds his eyes filled with contrition. He sighs. “I’m sorry for not fighting for you… for us, sooner.”

“No,” she says, shaking her head. “We’ve both made mistakes.” She reaches up to push the hair out of his forehead. “I’m sorry for assuming… well, everything. And for not giving you a chance to explain.”

He takes her hand, bringing it up to his lips to kiss the inside of her wrist. “Any chance there’s still one in those years’ worth of chances that’s still up for grabs?”

She smiles. “I think so.”

She’s warm. That’s the first thing that comes to Natasha’s mind when she stirs awake, her eyes blinking as they adjust to the pale morning light. But as her vision focuses, she realizes the warmth she’s feeling has less to do with the comforter she’s cocooned in and more with the arm draped over her waist. She turns to her other side to see Steve, his outrageously long lashes fanned out against his cheeks as he sleeps, and as memories of the last few hours come flooding back to her, she smiles.

It was past midnight when they finally found the wherewithal to clean the remnants of the feast she prepared, sharing a plate of leftovers and a few glasses of wine as they transferred the food into containers and loaded the dishwasher. They’d even gotten around to wrapping the last of Isabel’s Christmas presents, laying them neatly under the tree before finding themselves a tangled mess of limbs on her bed again, taking their sweet time this time around to get reacquainted with one another. After, they’d spent the rest of the night talking, laughing, and though they’d spent many nights like this in the past, this time felt significantly different. They still had so much to discuss, but with all their cards on the table, it’s as if their conversations – their plans – finally had a shot at permanence, a chance to become reality, and it would be a lie to say that the idea didn’t make her heart absolutely sing.

“You’re staring.”

Steve’s voice interrupts her musing, and she chuckles when she looks to find his eyes already open. “Some people find that romantic, you know.”

“In movies, maybe,” he says through a yawn. “But in real life, it’s just creepy.” She glares at him, giving his chest a shove, and he grins sleepily as he pulls her in for a kiss. “Merry Christmas, Natasha Romanoff.”

“Merry Christmas,” she whispers back, beaming.

He brings a hand to her hip, rubbing circles into her skin with his thumb. “You okay?”

The question causes her to bite her lip, stifling a smirk. It’s not as if last night was their first time – one need not look further than their daughter sleeping down the hall for proof – and yet, it was such a Steve thing to ask. She smiles. “Never better.”

Had it been any other morning, she might have called him out on the smug smile that crosses his lips, but she decides that today, she’ll let him have it. “So, tell me,” he says. “At what point in the last six months did you become a morning person?”

“It’s cute that you think your daughter let me have a say in the matter,” she deadpans, reaching up to cup his face and letting out a contented sigh. “And I’m just happy.”

“Yeah?” he asks, pulling her over him until she’s straddling his hips. “How happy?”

“I think…” she says, biting her lip as she leans down to whisper in his ear, “I’d rather show you than tell you.” He raises a curious brow at her as she pulls away, watching her carefully as she kisses her way down his neck, and she smiles when she feels his skin prickle under her lips.

“Hi!”

They both freeze at the greeting, sharing a wide-eyed stare with each other before turning to see Isabel watching them by the doorway, her stuffed Corgi in hand. “Oh, my God, Izzie,” she says, quickly grabbing her robe that’s dangling on the bedpost and wrapping it around herself. She hops off the bed, managing to throw Steve his boxers before she makes it to Isabel, bending down to pick her up. “How did you get out of your crib, babe?”

Isabel’s only response is to laugh, waving over her shoulder. “Hi, Dada!”

She turns just as Steve emerges from under the comforter. “Hi, fig.”

“You good over there?” she asks, biting back a smile.

He shoots her a withering look as she makes her way back to the bed. “Come here, you little escape artist,” he says, reaching for Isabel and making her giggle as he smothers her with kisses. “What did we say about climbing things?”

“Pwe-sents!” Isabel says, smiling widely.

He chuckles, turning to her just as she settles down next to him, leaning back against the headboard. “Do you want to have breakfast first?”

“No,” Isabel answers before she can get a word in, prompting them both to shake their head in amusement.

“In case you haven’t noticed, she’s kind of the boss around here” she says, smirking.

He laughs. “Presents it is.”

The floor of her living room is a sea of torn up wrapper and discarded ribbon, but as she brings her mug of hot chocolate to her lips, she finds that she couldn’t care less about the sprawling mess as she watches Steve help Isabel rip open her presents. For her part, she’s dutifully played photographer, cataloguing Isabel’s reaction to each gift – as requested by the competitive bunch of aunts, uncles, and grandparents all hellbent on one-upping each other.

“Last one, Iz,” Steve says, handing her a rectangular box.

“What is it?” she prompts excitedly as she puts her mug down to hold the camera back up, capturing the moment Isabel gets the last of the wrapper off and pulls the item out.

“Hat!” Isabel says, turning in Steve’s lap to show him.

“Close,” Steve says, nearly chuckling at the way Isabel’s brows furrow in dismay at his response. “It’s called a beanie. Though it’s just not any other beanie.” He looks her way as he adds, “It’s a beanie uncle Buck chose.”

The laugh slips freely from her lips. “Oh no!”

“Oh yes,” he confirms, his fingers feeling for something in the fabric. “Tada!”

“Wow!” Isabel exclaims, her big blue eyes filling with elation as the antlers on the Reindeer beanie light up, the array of colorful lights twinkling brightly. “Am-a-zing!”

“You hear that?” Steve asks, shooting her a smile. “It’s am-a-zing!” He turns to Isabel, pointing at the camera. “Say, thank you, Uncle Buck.”

“Thanks Buck!” Isabel says.

She chuckles as she cuts the video and rises to her feet. “I hope you still think it’s am-a-zing when she wants to go out in public with that thing,” she tells him in a sing-song voice as she opens up a trash bag and begins to collect the discarded wrapper.

“You mock the beanie now,” he says, standing when Isabel runs off to play with her new mountain of toys. “But when she runs off and the lights make her easy to spot, you might be singing a different tune.”

“The faith you have in our daughter keeping something on her head for more than five minutes is inspirational,” she says, turning to see him grab more wrapper off the floor. “Truly, it is.” She laughs as he rolls his eyes, slipping the bunch he has in his hand into the bag she’s holding as he comes to stand in front of her. “Is that everything?”

“As far as the wrapper’s concerned, yes,” he says, smiling as he produces a folded piece of paper from his back pocket. “But you still haven’t opened this.”

Her eyebrows furrow as she takes the paper from him. “Who’s this from?”

“Me,” he says simply.

“Steve.” His name falls from her lips like a chastisement, and she can only sigh when his response is to encourage her to open it. “Well, now I feel bad,” she says as her fingers work to unfold the paper. “I got you that gift from the aquarium to be funny and then you got me that book, and now…” Her words trail off as she opens the paper all the way, her eyes scanning over what’s scrawled out on it:

Will you go out on a date with me?

“I meant what I said about starting over,” he says when she looks up. “Or, at least, doing the parts we skipped.” His lips twist into a smile. “And I figured since contracts seem to be our thing, maybe you’d say yes if I asked you in writing.”

“You’re kidding, right?” she asks even as her lips turn up in amusement.

“I’m completely serious,” he says, shrugging at the incredulous stare she sends his way. “We could get dressed up, go to dinner and a movie…” He wiggles his eyebrows as he adds, “maybe even make out in the back of the theater.” She snorts at that last bit, and he smiles. “What do you say?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, okay?” she says, her expression growing serious. “But Steve, usually, a guy asks a girl out before she has his baby.”

When she smiles, he throws his head back, laughing. “Okay, well, usually a girl agrees to go out with a guy before she asks him to have a baby with her, so I guess we’re not really into chronology here.” He smirks as she narrows his eyes playfully at him. “Besides, your manufactured indignation would be a lot more convincing if you didn’t practically jump my bones last night.”

She gasps at that, stealing a quick glance over at Isabel to make sure she’s not listening before looking back at him, lowering her voice. “Oh, fuck you.”

“I’m sorry,” he says, a glint in his eyes as he pulls her to him. “Is that not what you were doing last night?”

“Whatever,” she says, unable to keep a smile from forming on her lips. “Fine. Yes, I will go out on a date with you.” His eyes light up at that, and she holds a finger up. “But if you give me another note at the end asking me to go steady, I’m leaving.”

He beams. “Yes, ma’am.”

She rises to the tips of her toes, wrapping her arms around his neck as his mouth finds hers for what feels like the millionth time this morning. The taste of his lips mingled with the hot chocolate they were sipping on is a heavy combination, and she lets out a happy sigh into their kiss when his hands curl around her waist, his thumb brushing against the patch of skin left exposed between her shirt and her pajamas. She nips at his bottom lip, making him groan, and it’s only when they hear someone clearing their throat that they pull away and she moves to look behind Steve.

“Sorry,” Loki says from where he leans by the doorway of her living room, his arms crossed over his chest as he grins from ear to ear. “I only came to check on the little one. I swear I knocked, but um…”

She bites her bottom lip just as Steve turns as well, but before she can say anything, Isabel is already up and running. “Yo-ki!”

“Well, hello there,” Loki says, picking Isabel up. “Someone’s chipper on this Christmas morning, I see. I’ve come to check on your stitches, which I tried to tell your Mum and Dad” – he turns back to them, smirking – “but they were busy.”

“Stitches, right,” she says a little too loudly, pointing towards the couch to hide her blush. “After you, Doc.”

Loki asks them a few of routine questions about Isabel as he sets his medical kit down on the coffee table, and as she and Steve take turns answering them and sharing their observations, she realizes that it’s nice to know that someone else was quietly sharing her worries throughout the night, picking up on the little things she was finding as well. They go silent as Loki begins to examine Isabel, checking her reflexes and changing the bandage covering her stitches.

“Okay,” Loki says, finally breaking the tense silence that had fallen over them. “This sweetheart is free to play with all her Christmas goodies.”

“Yeah?” she says. “Everything looks good?”

“Everything’s just splendid,” Loki says, turning to her and Steve as he helps Isabel off the couch. He drops the flashlight into his kit, zipping it up. “She’s not exhibiting any signs of a concussion and her stitches are healing up well and should dissolve on their own fairly soon.”

“Thank God,” Steve says, relief thick in his voice, and she finds herself nodding along to the sentiment.

“Thank you for coming to check on her,” she tells Loki, who only smiles in return. “I owe you one.”

“As do I,” Steve adds. “Any chance we could start the repayment with some breakfast?”

“I appreciate the offer, but actually the reason I came by early is because I’m on my way to my mother’s,” Loki says, smiling as he nods towards the both of them. “It’s nice to see you two have patched things up, though.”

“Yeah, about that,” Steve says. “Loki, I’m sorry for my behavior last night. There’s no excuse. I was an ass.”

“Oh, that’s quite alright,” Loki says, waving off his apology.

Steve shakes his head. “It’s not. I-”

“He thought you and I were together,” she blurts out suddenly, smiling when Steve’s eyes widen, a sheepish expression breaking out on his face.

“Well, that explains a lot,” Loki says, grinning graciously as his gaze goes from her to Steve. “In any case, I’m flattered that you’d consider me a worthy adversary.”

She smirks. “He also thinks you’re dreamy.”

“Does he now?” Loki asks, clearly amused.

“And on that note,” Steve says, turning to glare at her. “I think I hear our daughter calling.”

She and Loki snicker as Steve, ears red, walks away. “You sure you can’t stay?” she asks. “It won’t even take ten minutes to get the waffles going.”

“I’m sorry, darling,” Loki says as they begin to make their way towards her front door. “I don’t want to hit traffic and you know my mother will kill me if I so much as have a bite before I come to her home.”

“Tell Frigga I said hello then,” she says as she opens the door, leaning against it.

“Oh, believe me, that’s not the only thing I’ll be telling her,” he says, smirking as he gestures to her collarbone. She looks down, and he laughs as she adjusts the collar of her shirt to hide the mark still there. “Long night, was it?” She shoots him a withering look as he leans down to kiss her cheek, cocking a brow up at her. “I fully expect a detailed play by play when I get back.”

She chuckles, shoving him away playfully. “Get out of here!”

Loki smiles. “I’m happy for you, Nat.”

“Thank you,” she says with a nod. “Merry Christmas.”

With a wink, Loki waves goodbye, and she waits for him to make it down the stairs before shutting the door. She walks back to the living room, stopping just by the threshold to see Steve carrying Isabel as they both peer out the window. She smiles. “What are you two goofs up to?”

“Is ’nowing!” Isabel says, pointing out the window as Steve turns.

“Is it?” she asks as she pads to them, making a show of checking out the window. “It is! Maybe if there’s enough later, we can go outside and try to make Olaf.”

Steve’s brow rises in question. “Who’s Olaf?”

“Glad you asked,” she says at the same time Isabel utters snowman. Steve only stares blankly at them, making her laugh. “Don’t worry, you’ll get acquainted with him, Elsa, and Anna... Probably three times before this morning is over, if you’re lucky.”

“Still don’t know who those people are,” he says, pulling her in with his other hand until she’s pressed up against his side. “But I’ll gladly find out if you two introduce me.”

“What’s the saying again?” she muses, looking up teasingly at him. “Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it?”

He grins. “I think I may already have.”

The affection that fills his eyes is so remarkably perspicuous that she wonders how she’s missed it all these years, and as her lips turn up to mirror his smile, she makes a silent vow to never doubt its existence ever again. He leans down, but before his lips can meet hers, Isabel turns in his arms, effectively wedging herself between them.

“Mish-tow!” Isabel says, pointing above them.

They both laugh as they look up, and sure enough, the bundle of mistletoe she had put up yesterday looms above them. She smirks. “You know what that means, right?”

“I think I do,” he says, nodding knowingly as they both turn to Isabel, who’s watching them curiously.

“Fig sandwich!” they both yell as they lean in, pressing a kiss to Isabel’s cheeks and delighting in the way their daughter’s joyous laughter echoes throughout the room.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

#Romanogers #After All #A Little Favor #Steve Rogers #Natasha Romanoff #natrogers #fanfic #AU

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tchallasbabymama · 3 years

Text

The Temple- Chapter 4

Hey y’all, here’s the 4th and final chapter of The Temple. I might come back and do an epilogue, what do y’all think?

Check out my masterlist HERE for more of my stories!

Taglist: @maddeningmayhem, @theblulife, @nahimjustfeelingit-writes, @quietstorm-73, @ladymac82

CW: smut

Word count: 3185

N’Jadaka was shaken from his thoughts when the vibration from the Dora Milaje’s vibranium staffs went through the boat and into the river. He danced with his family as the water swirled down the drainage system his ancestors built hundreds of years ago, and the falls dried up slowly as the party commenced. Shuri noticed his return to reality and grabbed him for a dance before he could disappear into his head again. The royal family moved in sync with the drums while everyone sang in honor of their new, soon-to-be-crowned prince.

Representatives from each tribe were invited to celebrate N’Jadaka’s crowning, and each boat held about a hundred tribe members. Unfortunately the falls weren’t big enough for all of Wakanda to get to see the event up close and personal, but just like Challenge Day it would be televised to the whole country. When he found out just how many eyes would be on him, N’Jadaka grew nervous. He didn’t know how to be in the public eye as anything other than the monster he once was, but the whole country seemed to believe in him. More importantly, his family believed in him, and now he was finally becoming what he was always supposed to be. He would officially be Prince N’Jadaka, Son of Prince N’Jobu.

N’Jadaka came out of his shell the more he danced with his family, but his nerves grew again as the boats neared the edge and hovered their way down the falls, dropping the tribes off at their respective sections. He knew it was only a matter of minutes, now.

Once their boat touched down, N’Jadaka and the royal family disembarked and took their places front and center. Nakia and T’Challa stepped forward and addressed the crowd. N’Jadaka tried his best to listen, but his heart was beating so loud he couldn't hear anything else. When Nakia reached out her hand to bring him up with them, he could barely move, prompting Ramonda to give him a little nudge. He quickly snapped out of it and stepped forward, the crowd cheering then quieting again.

There he stood, wearing the same traditional shorts as T’Challa, with the Jaguar habit around his neck, his father’s ring on his finger, gold slugs in his teeth, new gold bracelet, and gold earrings in his ears with his hair braided back. He didn’t know it at the time, but he looked just like his father in that moment.

Ramonda and Shuri made their way to stand with them as a woman in purple entered with a wooden box.

“N’Jadaka,” the king turned to face him, tears in his eyes. “It has been a long journey for you, umzala, but welcome home.”

The woman then opened the box and N’Jadaka was presented with his crown. It was similar to Shuri’s with the jaguar mandible, but with black and gold beading and two golden canine teeth. Ramonda lifted the crown from the beautifully crafted Jabari wood box and cried tears of happiness as she placed it on her nephew’s head.

“It was your father’s,” Ramonda said, cupping his face in her hands.

“Come on, Auntie. You’re gonna make me cry,” N’Jadaka said, tears already running down his face.

“The teeth were my idea,” Shuri added as he pulled them both in for a hug.

The two of them stepped back after making sure his crown was secure on his head before the entire royal family turned to face the crowd, saluting them in unison and shouting, “Wakanda forever!”

He looked up at the crowd as they echoed the salute and he was able to make out tears on the faces of the people he knew. His therapist Ife had come, as had several of the other Ithemba patients from his time there. M’Baku and Okoye looked on with approval, both too proud to shed a single tear. He saw a few of Shuri’s lab assistants who had been there when he woke up and saw him at his worst staring at him with pride. He even saw the little old lady from the market and he was glad he made the choice to wear her bracelet today. Finally, his eyes landed on a group of people in all white towards the top of the falls before landing on the one person he really wanted to see.

Aisha smiled at him and blew him a kiss from afar, and it took everything in him to not reach out and catch it. T’Challa noticed his goofy smile and followed his gaze up the falls.

“Is that Aisha?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Mhm, that’s her,” he said dreamily.

T’Challa shook him out of his stupor.

“Come, cousin, you will see her later. You only have one crowning! Well, I guess you have had two, but you know what I-”

“Honey, stop rambling, lets go,” Nakia pulled T’Challa back on the boat and the rest of the family followed shortly after. They all made it back to the palace to change clothes for the feast in the prince’s honor.

-------

N’Jadaka stared at himself in the mirror when he was finally alone in his room. He looked just like his mom and he hoped she could see him from the ancestral plane. He could almost hear her going, “Look at my baby!” and a happy tear escaped his eye at the thought. He stared at his baba’s crown on his head and wondered what he had looked like in his royal garb. He never got to meet Prince N’Jobu in all his royal glory, and he made a mental note to look for pictures later.

The prince changed into an all-black suit with gold accents, still donning his crown of course, and left to join the festivities. When he made his entrance you couldn’t tell him a damn thing, he was so full of himself. He walked down those stairs like he owned them, and when he joined the rest of the family at their table he was in such high spirits he couldn’t stop smiling. His joy affected everyone at the table and even somehow reached to the rest of the party.

Wakandans love to party, so they worked their dinner off with some dancing. With A Hennessy bottle in his hand for most of the night, N’Jadaka danced the night away, tiring himself out and eventually excusing himself to get some fresh air. He set down his bottle of Hennessy and headed outside the hall towards the balcony. He stood there looking over all of Wakanda and feeling at peace when he suddenly felt a pulling in his stomach.

He turned around and there she was again, wearing a form fitting off the shoulder white dress and gold accessories that glowed even brighter on her satiny dark brown skin. Her braids had been intricately tied back into a bun with gold ribbon and golden heels on her feet. His voice caught in his throat and almost a whole minute went by before he said anything.

“You look beautiful,” he was finally able to get out after shaking himself out of his shock.

That smile he loved so much crept up her face and her dimples came out of hiding.

“Thank you, my prince. You look good in clothes,” she said cheekily, undressing him with her eyes but trying to be respectful. She couldn’t get the naked image of him out of her head.

“Well thank you,” he laughed.

“And that crown looks good on you. How does it feel?”

“Light,” he responded after thinking for a moment. He reached out and grabbed her hand before leading her over to a bench off to the side. The two of them caught up on what had been going on in their lives over the past two weeks since they saw each other last.

“Into the wall?!”

“Yeah girl, that’s just what happens being in Shuri’s lab sometimes. You know, I could show you-” he was interrupted by the king and queen coming out to the patio.

“Oh, this is where you disappeared to. You know you’ve abandoned your own party, right?” Nakia asked as she plopped down on another bench, relieving her aching feet. “And what is your name?”

“Aisha, my queen. My king,” she saluted them both and they waved her off.

“Any friend of my cousin’s is a friend of ours. So tell me Aisha, what-”

“Nope, we’re gonna go now,” N’Jadaka interrupted before the king could embarrass him. “I’ll see you later T, Queenie.” He dapped up T’Challa and kissed Nakia on the cheek before grabbing Aisha’s hand and leading her away from them.

The king and queen waved them goodbye, and as soon as the two lovebirds were out of sight they turned to eachother and snickered like children.

“Is that the one you were telling me about?” Nakia asked. She always loved gossiping with her husband.

“Mhm, he’s crazy about her. What do you think?”

“Did you see how they looked at each other? I’d be very surprised if she's not a princess by this time next year.”

Back inside, the prince and the Daughter of Bast had caught the eye of nearly everyone in the room but neither of them noticed. They danced the rest of the night and only sat down once the crowd started to dwindle.

“Want to get out of here? I think I’ve shown my face enough for one day,” the prince said as he stood and reached out his hand to pull her up from her seat.

“I was ready an hour ago, let’s go,” she said, leaving the festivities on the arm of the prince.

_______

“Wait, is this allowed?” N’Jadaka asked, breaking away from her lips for a moment. His hands gripped her hips tight while his lips travelled up and down her neck. They found their way to the edge of the bed and Aisha straddled him.

“Of course it is,” she giggled as his beard tickled her skin. She grinded her hips into his lap, removing his shirt while he unzipped the back of her dress. He tongue kissed her neck and moved up to her ear.

“Get up, then,” he said before slapping her ass with both hands. She moaned into his ear, then got up.

He kissed her collarbone lightly as he pulled her dress down her body, facing some resistance around her hips and ass. His lips travelled down to her perky nipples, remembering how sensitive they were to his touch last time. Aisha let out a moan and sat back down on his lap, grinding her bare pussy into him again.

His fingers found their way to her clit as he bit her bottom lip lightly. He tugger on it before going in for the kill, tongueing her mouth like his life depended on it. She moaned into the kiss as his fingers explored her pearl.

“Yessss,” she let out.

“Right there?” He teased. “Or right here?” He moved his fingers further down, spreading her lips and entering her slowly.

She loved the feeling of his thick fingers stretching her out so much that he added a third finger and picked up the pace. All Aisha could do was moan and cum until she was unable to hold herself up, grabbing onto his neck for support.

“Tapping out on me already?” He teased again.

“Not at all, my prince.”

He growled and laid back, picking her up and placing her on his face.

“Good, ride this tongue babygirl.” He slapped her ass and she got comfortable on her throne.

His tongue immediately wrapped around her erect clit and he let out a moan, enjoying the taste of her. His tongue was pure magic the way it moved against her, and her pussy was like a faucet for him. His thick tongue travelled down to her hole and entered her, swirling around and massaging that spot inside her that made her legs shake.

“Mmm, baby, ooh just like that. Just like that.” Her hips moved back and forth over his face as his tongue worked her insides.

His grip on her hips tightened and he let out a deep growl when he heard her call him baby.

“Call me that again.”

“Yes, baby, yes, oh my Bast, mmm.”

He sucked on her clit and her body seized while her juices rained down on his face. She slumped down and stared at him as he cleaned his plate before hopping off and right onto his dick.

“Mmm, baby, you feel so good inside me,” she said as her hips twirled like a tornado, rendering him speeechless. His hands came up to play with her nipples as she rode him and she came almost immediately.

She rode him all night, edging him while easily spinning around and periodically switching from reverse to forward cowgirl.

He couldn’t do anything but grunt and moan and hold on tight since she was in complete control. When his body began to twitch and his eyes fought to keep from rolling to the back of his head, she sped up, bouncing her ass on his pelvis while her hips moved in a circle. She leaned down so that her lips brushed his ear.

“Cum for me, baby. Cum in this pussy.”

Once again, his body obeyed her command and he released inside of her with a roar. After being teased all night, his body finally felt relief and a wave of fatigue washed over him.

Aisha tried to pull herself off of him, but the prince wouldnt let her waist go. She laid her head on his chest and they fell asleep with him still inside her.

Their nap only lasted so long before they were up fucking again. The whole night consisted of sex and pillowtalk, and didn’t make it to sleep until around 5am. They fell asleep in the exact same position they did earlier.

Aisha was awakened by the sound of a knock at the door and a stirring beneath her, but she was too tired to open her eyes. Her human pillow grunted at the disturbance, but didn’t seem too concerned until they knocked again.

“Hamba!” N’Jadaka yelled towards the door, and Aisha giggled at his early morning grumpiness.

On the other side of the door, T’Challa heard her laugh and stepped back from the door, smirking on the way back to the dining room to join the rest of his family for breakfast.

N’Jadaka had their breakfast brought to the room and the two of them lazed around all morning eating and growing closer.

“You know, it’s weird.” N’Jadaka started.

“What is?” Aisha asked, sitting up with her legs tucked under her.

“You and me. I, uh, I saw you before we met...in a daydream while I was jerkin it in the jacuzzi.”

She snorted and they both broke out into a laughing fit.

“Nah, I’m serious though, ma. Everything down to your tattoo,” he said as his hands caressed the ink up and down the side of her body.

“Maybe we knew eachother in a past llife,” her hand came out to caress his face and he leaned into it, planting a kiss on her inner wrist.

“Maybe we did...who do you think we were?”

Aisha laid down on his chest and stared at the ceiling while he ran his fingers through her braids. They stayed like that for another ten minutes before Aisha broke the silence.

“What if we were just two people who met and fell in love? You could have been a traveller from the merchant tribe and maybe you saw me from afar, swimming in the river and were drawn to me. Or maybe we were childhood friends that grew closer as we got older and eventually fell in love, “ Aisha mused.

“You said love, twice,” the prince pointed out.

She paused.

“I guess I did, huh?”

They stared into each other’s eyes.

“I know it seems early, but...after you left the Temple I couldn't get you out of my head. I feel...connected to you in so many ways.” she grabbed his hand and brought the palm to her bosom. “I already feel your heart beating in my chest. Baby, I felt your pain. I’ve never connected with anyone like that. And then when I’m around you i get this feeling in my stomach-”

“Like someone’s pulling you-”

“Yeah, that’s- wait, you feel it too?” she looked up at him with her slanted feline eyes and he gazed into them lovingly.

“Ever since the first time I saw you, babygirl.”

Their romantic moment was ruined by a tiny black furball with a shiny gold collar sneak-attacking them and landing on the bed.

“I was wondering where you were!” Aisha lifted her and snuggled her close, the kitten purring and rubbing her head against Aisha’s face. “What’d you name her?”

“Cleo, like Cleopatra,” he said through a smile, enjoying the sight of her doting on his fur baby.

“The perfect name for a little queen like her,” Aisha booped her nose then set her down to play on the bed.

“Do you have to get back?” he asked her, changing the subject but hoping she’ll say no.

“Nope, I see patrons on my own time, there’s no schedule...but I haven’t really been seeing much of anybody lately,” she admitted.

“Why not?” he sat up, concerned.

“It doesnt feel the same to me...my body reacts to you, but not to anyone else anymore. You broke my pussy.”

He fought a smirk from appearing on his face. He didn’t want her to leave the Temple because of him, but he did like knowing he was the only one her body responds to.

“I’ve been thinking about leaving…” Aisha said nervously.

“Look at me,” he said to her, tipping her chin up so that she was looking into his eyes. “Are you doing this for you?”

“Yes, I can’t provide pleasure if I’m not pleased myself. You’re the only one I want to touch me... Plus I just don't want to leave here,” she smiled up at him.

“Then don’t.”

“I’m not,” she giggled.

“No, I’m serious. I don't mean just like right now. Don’t leave, stay here in the palace with me.”

Her eyes got big and a smile grew on her face. He tilted her head so that her lips were just an inch away from his.

“You know you my princess, right?” he asked before lightly planting a kiss on her lips. She looked at him and nodded her head before going back in for another.

In that moment, N’Jadaka felt whole for the first time ever. He hadn’t experienced love and affection in such a long time, but now he can’t imagine his life without it. Not only the beautiful woman in his bed, but his family and his country as well.

The smile on his face grew wider and a tear came to his eye. This is what his life was always supposed to be, and at last he found it.

#cecewritessometimes #black panther fic #the temple #n'jadaka x oc #n'jadaka #black!oc

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sarcastic-sunshines · 2 years

Text

ABIONA AU - Part 12

Pairing: T’ Challa x Black!Reader

Warning(s): None

Link to ABIONA by @aloevverified

Link to Face claims (2)

Previous Chapter: Interlude 11

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Part 12

Abiona’s cries echoed across their home, frustrating her tired mother as she tried to feed her the fufu and okra soup she had made. Normally, it was ‘Ona’s favourite meal, but just like everything recently she chose to reject it. Alix was exhausted, and her moody one-and-a-half-year-old was not helping her in any way. It was better if T’Challa fed her. He had a bit more patience to sit here and let her act out, but at the end of the day, her plate was always empty. He was a very lenient Baba, but feeding time was when he strived the most, and Alix was missing that right now.

T’Challa had gone to attend African Union meetings for about a week. Since ‘Ona’s birthday, their lives had gotten extremely busy. Alix had resumed her work with the UN, while only teaching one class this semester. So that meant she too had begun going on her own diplomatic trips. By the time she would be back, T’Challa would be getting ready to leave again. They had begun to see each other more on screens than in person. Though Alix’s trips had slowed down, T’Challa’s had only intensified. This meant Alix was stuck with dealing with questions from his mother about when they planned to get married and her trying to squeeze in mini Queen lessons into their lunches together. Her days would end with her daughter refusing to eat everything but fried plantains. Not to talk about the mission bedtime had become.

Alix, however, had promised to be understanding of the trying times the both of them were going through. After their fight, T’Challa had tried to work less, but the last three months had been filled with meetings and diplomatic appearances the young King couldn’t avoid. Alix knew this, so to get through she thought about his promise for a lovely anniversary in Kampala. Just the two of them as she soaked up his uninterrupted attention. And they were almost there. Once T’Challa came home from this last trip, he was all hers. She held onto this promise as Abiona threw the fufu balls to the ground with a giggle.

“You don’t do this with your Baba” just as she said that Alix’s bead began to flash purple. “Speaking of, ‘Ona guess who is calling” T’Challa appeared in the hologram projection, she placed the beads down so she could still try and feed the moody little girl as she spoke.

“Baba!” Abiona yelled, moving around in her highchair excitedly, forgetting that her mother was even trying to feed her. The call of his name by his daughter still excited him as much as the first day she had done it. He had nearly cried if not for Jules mocking him, stealing the intensity of the moment from him.

“Hello, beautiful! What are you doing?” Abiona went on to babble and jump in her seat. Alix tried to steady the tray so she wouldn’t spill any more food.

“I am trying to feed her but it is not working. Someone has been a bit naughty, perhaps it's because they want their Baba to come back home for good.” T’Challa smiled knowing he was missed. He too was exhausted by the back and forth and definitely felt like he had earned his vacation. More importantly, he missed his family.

“Does she now, and do you miss me entle?” He asked with a smirk.

“Of course I do, if you were here I would be able to catch up on How to Get Away With Murder and you would be feeding this ball of never-ending energy,” she said wiping the baby’s mouth, getting ready to try again.

“Is that all you miss me for?” he said with a frown.

“Of course not. You know I miss you, babe. The bed is so cold without my big spoon” she said with a little pout, but T’Challa knew she was not letting on how much she felt his absence. He could tell by the way her calls and text had gotten longer. How she held onto him a bit tighter every time she knew he had to go. The most obvious was when he would finally come home in the middle of the night and find their daughter occupying his spot in the big bed.

“I miss you too, so much. I cannot wait to get out of here. One can only fake laugh at these horrible jokes for so long.” Alix let out a giggle

“Just two more days of those dry chuckles and then you can come back to me,” She said sweetly, T’Challa suddenly got quiet and turned his attention back to Abiona.

“Oh no, you aren’t coming back in two days are you!” Alix said a little too loud, making Abiona jump.

“Entle. I am sorry, it is just that the Ghanaian president only gets here when I was scheduled to leave and he has been trying to meet with me for months.” Alix turned back to Abiona with a scowl on her face.

“You always do this T’Challa. You have extended every trip” He could see her exhaustion and he really did feel bad leaving her with Abiona for so long.

“Entle I am sorry”

“You already said that, try something else,” she said harshly.

“Eh remember no fighting, especially in front of the baby” Alix took a deep breath, trying to control herself. She was sure she would explode soon from all the stress.

“So when do you think you will be able to come home? We are supposed to go to Paris by the end of the week .” She said as calmly as she could.

“Yes, so I think I will just meet you there. I just need two additional days, that’s it” Alix turned to him so he understood how serious she was.

“Promise me”

“I promise”

“If you don’t show up at the date you promise I will be very upset. I am not sure what I will do, but know that is when our no fighting period expires” At the same time Abiona tipped over the bowl of soup all over the floor. Alix sighed heavily, the little girl seemed to sense her Mama’s mood, seeing as she became still waiting for a response from either of her parents.

“‘Ona, we don’t do that do we?” he asked her, feeling sorry for Alix. “I promise I will be there and you will have my undivided attention okay. I cannot wait to be back and get to see that beautiful face in person. ”

“Yeah, whatever” Alix said nonchalantly, but a smile gave away how easy it was for his words to charm her. His own smile became flirtatious.

“I cannot wait to hold you and to receive all my -” he paused looking at his very impressionable daughter. “To receive all my kisses,” he said finally said making Alix giggle. She felt the heat rising in her cheeks.

“Well, I can’t wait to give you all your...kisses. And it’s about time, all this travelling has not really allowed for any intimacy. “

“It hasn’t been that long”

“There are cobwebs babe” T’Challa laughed loudly, startling Abiona who had started to fall asleep. “ I think dinner is over. Someone needs a bath and bottle before bed. I will talk to you later okay.”

“I love you both”

“We love you too, hurry up and get home.” She said turning off the hologram and picking up a sleepy baby for bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alix watched as the two toddlers passed the blocks between one another, babbling away in a secret baby language only the two of them seemed to understand. Amélie came back and gave her a glass of lemonade. It was the beginning of September which allowed for it to still be fairly warm in Paris. Alix was holding the newest addition to their family. A beautiful baby girl named Chanté. She, like Emmanuel, looked so much like Amélie.

“She looks like you, probably more than Emmanuel,” Alix said looking at Amélie, who did not look like she had just given birth a month ago. She was still glowing, motherhood truly fit her.

“I know, David keeps saying it looks like he wasn’t a part of the process” Alix laughed

“It is so surreal, just thinking about how not too long ago I was here meeting Emmanuel for the first time, and Abiona was still inside of me kicking up a storm. Now she spends her time babbling and hiding in the kitchen cupboards” Alix said with a giggle looking at the newborn in her hand. It made her think about what another baby with T’Challa would look like. She would love to see his smile on a miniature version of him.

“I always thought you and T’Challa would have another baby before us” Alix scrunched up her face making Amélie laugh.

“What would ever give you that crazy idea. Abiona is not even two yet, and I am lucky that T’Challa hasn’t started his more babies campaign, though he is a bit too occupied to do that” Alix said much sadder than she had hoped to.

“Is he still proposing every day?” Alix shook her head

“He doesn’t have enough time to do all that right now. I cannot wait for him to get here so we can just go on vacation and I don’t have to worry about when his next trip is, or mine, or if his mother is just trying to have lunch or if this is another mini lesson.” The pair giggled. Alix looked down at the baby in her hand her smile left her face.

“I also hope I can stop thinking about whether he even wants to marry still. He never talks about it anymore so who knows. It’s just funny that the moment I start seriously considering it, I start to see him less and our relationship is at this standstill where it could either crash and burn or we could take this big step that I know I am ready for. And I would like to think T’Challa is as well.” she said taking sip of her drink.

“Alix you have to know that man is crazy in love with you. It is just a moment and I am sure you will be fine. If there is one thing that remains constant in your relationship, it’s T’Challa.” Amélie grabbed the baby from her hands to change her diaper. Alix thought about what Amélie said, wishing her sure-footed partner would give her a sign he was still confident everything was good.

“He came here two weeks ago you know,” Amélie said, taking Alix out of her own head. “He came to see the baby, he was sure he wouldn’t have time now but didn’t want to miss her first month”

“Good to know he has time for someone”

“Alix! That isn’t fair”

“I am only kidding, plus there is no fighting until after he shows up” Amélie let out a breathy laugh.

“The two of you are so funny to watch” Alix smiled. She had to admit they were quite the spectacle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alix waited with the warm bottle in her hand as her tireless baby when back and forth in the living room with no signs of stopping for bed. She needed to drink her bottle and sleep so Alix could, but just watching Abiona go around in circles was draining her more than she already was.

“‘Ona please, come eat, it is past your bedtime and now mine” Alix tried lamely, she got up to scoop the little girl in her hands, who struggled against her. Abiona was close to throwing a tantrum when the front door opened. Carrying an upset Abiona she went to go peak thinking it may be Jules who had promised to come to see their parents for a few weeks. Alix broke into a smile when she saw T’Challa a day earlier than expected. He put down the bouquet of lilies he had and open his hands to hug his two favourite girls.

“Baba!” Abiona yelled excitedly, touching him to see if it was just a hologram or not. He took Abiona from Alix’s hands before kissing and hugging her tightly. She let his warmth engulf her, and just like that, she felt at home again.

“I missed you so much” T’Challa whispered into her hair.

“I missed you too” she reached up and kissed him one more time before pulling away. She put the bottle she was holding into his free hand “You came at the perfect time. Somebody doesn’t want to go to bed, but I do so good night Abiona, have fun with Baba”

She kissed her child good night before turning to head to her bed. “See you soon babe”

T’Challa chuckled before taking Abiona to her room “I see you have not been on your best behaviour have you?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alix laid awake listening to the monitor as T’Challa sang a Wakandan lullaby to Abiona. She allowed herself to listen, letting the familiar tune take her into a state of serenity. She loved having T’Challa back, it has only been an hour but she already felt warm inside. The monitor went silent, Alix looked over and saw ‘Ona asleep. She closed her eyes again, the dipping of the bed caused her to open her eyes, she was met with a matching pair of brown eyes, the same brown eyes that she saw when she looked at Abiona.

He moved slowly, bringing his arms towards her, “Hey, no funny business mister, you just got here and I am way too tired for that.” T’Challa chuckled lowly before laying his head on her stomach and wrapping his arms around her middle.

“What happened to cobwebs that I needed to clear out” he kissed her stomach while she giggled. She ran her finger through his curls.

“They are still there, I just want to be able to have the energy. Plus, there will be time for that in Kampala”

“Yes there will be, I have so much planned for us” Alix closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again, taking in the intimacy of the moment.

“I need you to make me another promise” T’Challa lifted his head to look at Alix. “I need you to promise that when we get there, you won’t spend the whole time doing work and we will actually get some time to ourselves. Because I miss you and I need you to be able to separate being King and being Baba and my husband.”

“Your husband,” T’Challa said smugly. Alix realized her Freudian slip and her heart started beating quickly.

“I meant if, as in if you are my husband. It was a slip of the tongue”

“Just a slip of the tongue?”

“Yes ugly! Do you promise or not” T’Challa laid back down on her stomach.

“I promise, but that doesn’t include emergencies which I really cannot avoid.” Alix pretended to think it over.

“Fine, but tell Okoye to leave the ‘emergencies’ to a minimum” T’Challa finally crawled up and kissed her.

“Okay, I promise” He deepened the kiss, making Alix moan in response. He brought his hand under her nightgown, letting himself feel the smoothness of her skin. She helped him pull his shirt over his head. Alix’s eyes gazed at T’Challa hungrily before reattaching their lips “What happened to too tired”

“I suddenly got a burst of energy,” she replied in between kisses. Their actions were stopped by a wail making them both look at the monitor. Abiona’s cry for her mother was matched with T’Challa’s groan as he rolled onto his back.

“Did you change her diaper before putting her to bed? “

“No, we do that now?”

“We do, so you might want to go do that” Abiona cried again, making it clear she wanted her mother.

“I believe I am not the one being summoned” it was Alix’s turn to groan while T’Challa laughed. She ran to the nursery, quickly changing the little princess’s diaper before rocking her back to sleep. She closed the door to the nursery walking back to their room ready to continue where they left off.

“Okay she is asleep,” she said ready to get on the bed, only to be met with a snoring T’Challa. She threw a pillow at him, waking him up momentarily to let Alix crawl into his arms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“T’Challa we have to go please” Alix begged by the door as T’Challa kissed his baby goodbye. He had barely seen her for a day and they were going for another week. He almost wanted to tell Alix they shouldn’t go anymore, but doing so meant picking a fight he definitely did not want to have. Despite his apprehension to go, a little part of him was looking forward to the time he could have with just Alix. He didn’t have to share his limited time between her and Abiona. He wanted to make sure Alix had a good time. He hoped she enjoyed everything that he had planned, though he made sure there was ample time to just lay around with one another. As long as she was happy he would be at peace.

“Come on T’Challa, ‘Ona will be perfectly fine with her Mémé.” Estelle cooed taking the baby from T’Challa. “Just one week and you can have her back. I barely get to see my grandbaby so we are going to have so much fun, so please go”

Estelle finished pushing T’Challa towards the door. Jules entered the door, after helping Alix get Abiona’s things from the car.

“Damn sis, it’s only one baby why does she have so much stuff” Alix rolled her eyes pulling T’Challa to exit

“Language Mayowa” Tolu scolded

“Thank you once again for offering to watch her for this week. Alix and I appreciate it so much”

“No need to thank us for wanting to see our grandchild, right Tolu” Estelle said passing Abiona to him.

“You are welcome T’Challa”

“Okay, goodbye everybody,” Alix said finally moving towards the car.

“Good luck T” Jules yelled, making T’Challa turn to him with a glare.

“Good luck for what? What is he talking about?” T’Challa moved them quickly towards the car

“Nothing entle, the boy does not always make sense. Vacation time right” He said with a nervous chuckle. Alix did not pry, she was already in vacation mode and all her worries were to be set aside.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Royal Talon Fighter flew over the capital city undetected. Alix peered out the window, looking down at the city that had been home to her three years ago. So much had happened in Kampala, and because of it so much had changed. It was amazing to think about the circumstances that were bringing her back. She was not alone anymore, and she was grateful for that.

She could see her old apartment from so high, she could tell wherever they were going was not far from the city, but most likely an undetected location. She was travelling with the King of Wakanda of course. She turned to T’Challa who had just left Okoye’s side as she directed the Talon.

“Babe, are we going far from the city”

“Just 30 minutes out, it is better this way. No one knows we are coming, therefore they cannot book any impromptu meetings that will take me away from you.” He said sitting down to kiss her hand.

“Good, now how will we get around without people realizing King T’Challa is here”

“You leave that to me and Okoye” Alix looked over at the general, she smiled sweetly before sending her hand to caress the back of his neck.

“Babe? Is Okoye staying?” She asked innocently. Alix liked Okoye, she found the woman very fierce and even humorous when she chose to be. She was especially soft with Abiona while still being protective, and she was thankful for that. However, she fueled T’Challa’s workaholic personality and truthfully, she wanted to be completely alone with T’Challa. That is when she got to see the best side of him. Some of her favourite moments of their relationship were the two of them alone in her apartment when she was pregnant.

“Do not worry Alix” Okoye interrupted. “I have been told to return to Wakanda as soon as possible, as well as to keep the ‘emergencies’ to a minimum” she finished slyly, making Alix turn to T’Challa, whom she hadn’t expected to reiterate her request word for word.

They landed on top of a white villa surrounded by a thick forest that went for miles. Alix toured the house as T’Challa removed their bags. Okoye quickly said goodbye to the couple before leaving them to begin their holiday. T’Challa followed Alix around the house as she awed at the interior design.

“I forgot how much I love the aesthetic of this city. Even though we aren’t right in the middle”

“So you like it then?” She nodded with a smile, before grabbing his hand leading him to what she assumed was their bedroom for the next week. Once she figured out she was right, she threw the shawl she was wearing on the bed moving towards the bathroom with T’Challa still at her heel. She let out a big gasp. She smiled when she saw the size of the bathtub. Alix turned on the tap letting the tub fill with warm water. She kicked her shoes off and started unbuttoning her trousers and looking at the available bubble baths and essential oils she could add.

“You are going to take a bath right now?”

“No, we are” T’Challa stared confused. Alix rolled her eyes before reaching over to help him with the buttons on his shirt. He held her hands so she could look at him. “What? We are on vacation, we deserve to enjoy how big this tub is”

“And that's fine, I should probably check the security measures of the house first though. I hadn’t had the time to review that before Okoye left”

Alix didn’t respond, instead, she slowly removed more clothes, never breaking eye contact with T’Challa, who despite his words was planted in his spot, his eyes slowly moving with Alix as she entered the tub. She settled into the water, leaning over the tub hoping T’Challa would follow suit.

“I can 99.9% promise you Okoye left this house as secure as possible before she left. Even if she didn’t, no one knows we are here and you can do that in the morning. So stop being King T’Challa for a little while and just be my T’Challa”

“Your T’Challa,” He said with a chuckle.

“You laugh, but they are two different people and as much as I admire King T’Challa and enjoy working with him, I want my T’challa to take off his clothes, get in this water and enjoy this bubble bath with me while he tells me some of his very unfunny jokes,” She said with the smile that always had him bending to her every will. And just like that, looking at the glimmer in her eyes he was unzipping his pants and placing his kimoyo beads on the counter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alix looked admiringly at T’Challa who had his eyes closed and her foot in his hands gently massaging it. For the first time in months, he looked relaxed and it made her gleeful. She twirled her foot in his hand making him open his eyes.

“Amélie told me you came to visit the baby” he nodded slowly, closing his eyes again. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going?”

“Because there was already so much tension between us”

“We had a no fighting truce though”

“Yes, but I didn’t want you to think I was making time for things that weren’t you and ‘Ona. Which I am sure you thought anyways when Amélie told you.” T’Challa opened one of his eyes to see Alix’s guilty face.

“I was right!” he replied enthusiastically, Alix quickly retaliated splashing water in his face. His exaggerated reaction gave her a giggle. “The baby looks just like her mother, again”

“I know right. Amélie told me that David says it looks like he was not a part of the process”

“I sympathize with my friend” he replied nonchalantly

“Really, why?”

“Everyone wants their child to look like them. It is one of the first questions people ask when a child is born. ‘Who do they look more like?’ They asked when Abiona was born, but it is so obvious because she looks so much like you. She even has some of your freckles.”

“Why are you acting like our daughter doesn’t have your eyes, or when she makes that little angry face when she doesn’t get her way that isn’t you shining through”

“Yes struggling to get through all the Alix that she holds. I am hoping our second baby will look more like me” Alix covered her smile, but her heartfelt every emotion that his sentence brought her. It was comforting to know that he still thought of them in the future. As a long-term idea that would be filled with more planning together.

“You are talking about a second baby already?” She moved her foot and made her way over to him leaning her back to his stomach. She laid her hand on his gently playing with his fingers “What happened to getting married first”

She waited for a response, feeling the rise and fall of his nervous breathing on her back. He said nothing, instead of kissing her shoulder. She turned her head to question his unusual silence but was interrupted by the yellow flashing from his kimoyo beads. Alix groaned loudly, holding T’Challa in place as he tried to get up to answer the call.

“T’Challa we just got here. What can Okoye possibly need”

“I don’t know but if you let me go I can find out,” he said jokingly but Alix did not laugh.

“Emergencies only remember” T’Challa settled back into the tub. Before Alix could turn back into her spot, his beads began to flash again, this time a blinding red that was non-stop.

“I guess it is an emergency,” He said getting out of the tub and wrapping himself in a towel. He walked out of the bathroom to take what Alix knew would be a long phone call. It was never short, and it made the bath less appealing. She drained the water, ready to end the night and go to bed alone, as she had been for most of the past 6 months.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day had been no different for Alix, it started well, they had breakfast together and went off to see the Kasubi Tombs that were burial grounds for past Bugandan Kings. The tour was going well and they had a good time. Until that glaring red light went off halfway through the tour. He left her to answer the call halfway through and didn’t finish until Alix was done the tour. Alix was visibly upset and he had apologized profusely. Alix tried her best to calm down so they could enjoy the rest of their day, and they did. They were able to sneak around Owino market to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Alix was even able to buy a few matching dresses for both her and Abiona. Of course, T’Challa grumbled as she did, but she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

By the time they got home, Alix had forgotten about the incident at the Kasubi Tombs. He offered to make dinner while she watched with a wine glass in her hand. They had a calm dinner talking about everything and nothing until Alix was cut off by that horrible red light on his wrist. T’Challa did not even apologize before leaving her to clean up.

By the time she made it to their bedroom, he was still on the phone. She called her parents to talk to Abiona before heading to the shower, while T’Challa was still on the phone. Alix made her annoyance apparent, but it was easily ignored by T’Challa who was engrossed in whatever he was talking about on the phone.

Alix decided to try a new strategy, she left the bathroom wearing a yellow lace lingerie set she had gotten just for their vacation. The smell of the coconut oil in her hair followed her out of the bathroom. The scent immediately hit T’Challa on his spot on the couch where he was seated. He turned to look at the bathroom door.

Alix entered the bedroom, making sure to sway with every step so T’Challa could see, and he did. His eyes lingered on her legs making him take awkward pauses through his speech. She sat on the bed, calling him over with her finger. T’Challa replied, signalling five more minutes. She rolled her eyes but got comfortable in the bed.

Five minutes quickly turned to thirty, which then became almost an hour. She laid awake, watching him pace back and forth, he spoke in hushed sentences hoping to not disturb Alix. She looked at the clock and saw he had been on the phone for over an hour. She tried to wait up for him, but she felt her eyes closing. Alix wasn’t sure if she wanted to even make it through the week if every day would be like this. She didn’t want to fight with him but it seemed to be leading there.

Her eyes were closed, but she felt T’Challa put his arms around her and pull her in. He kissed her cheek and whispered ‘I’m sorry'.

“You tried that already, would you like to try something else,” she said turning to him. His eyes showed him searching for the right words to say.

“I know I haven’t been as present as you and I would have liked. I promise that tomorrow I will do better” He said hoping to appease Alix. She closed her eyes for a moment.

“Tomorrow will be different because I am taking control. Don’t ask me how because if I tell you, you will try and stop me. “ He let out an exhausted laugh. Perhaps having Alix interfere would be good for him. “I need you to do better so I can actually make it to this so-called surprise that you have for me at the end.”

T’Challa smiled, but she noticed his breathing became frantic again just as it had in the tub. Before she could say anything, he kissed her goodnight and turned off the lights, with another promise of a better tomorrow on his lips.

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#t'challa x reader #sunshinewrites #t'challa #part 12

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popwasabi · 4 years

Text

“Who are you?” The scene that defines Chadwick Boseman’s legacy

Yesterday, the world lost a bright and promising, burgeoning talent in Chadwick Boseman.

I had wondered privately for a while if something was wrong with him, as others had as well online, as he appeared increasingly sicker with each interview he gave over the last two years. I thought maybe I had been looking too much into it, not wanting to jump to conclusions about who he was but now gravely we all know why.

The much too young star of films such as “42,” “Marshall,” and of course, “Black Panther” had been fighting a largely private battle with colon cancer for four years.

It was devastating hearing this news yesterday, the man who undeniably left behind a legacy of playing prominent black heroes, both historical and fictional, passed away just as he was starting to truly hit it big. When you begin to realize the man was dealing with cancer as he performed physically demanding roles in the MCU you begin to see the character and determination of a man unwilling to quit in the face of true adversity.

But he clearly wasn’t just doing it for himself when he continued making and promoting NINE more movies despite his diagnosis, afterall no one would’ve blamed the guy for taking it easy these past four years. He’s had many scenes that define his legacy over his all too short career but I feel it can really be summed up in one particular moment from by far his most famous film; “Black Panther.”

Those who know me or have read my work know that I have a fairly cynical relationship with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While I would not say most of them are “bad” per se, I would say a ton of them are largely interchangeable action comedies with pretty straightforward messages about good vs evil for general audiences. They are largely popcorn escapism and though there is nothing technically wrong with that, I was starved for an MCU film that was sincere about its story finally and had something real to say.

Enter “Black Panther” in early 2018.

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“Black Panther” was everything I had long been waiting for in the MCU; a film with a real sense of vision and theme, a killer soundtrack, great supporting characters, a complicated and nuanced villain, and a story that didn’t feel the need to add a joke after every single scene like more typical MCU movies. The tip of that spear of course was Chadwick, who had already proved to be a great Black Panther in one of the few other sincere Marvel flicks “Civil War.” His natural charisma, physicality, and dramatic presence in this role made him a huge standout in frankly the best ensemble cast of any superhero movie ever.

The scene that truly sums up not just the mark “Black Panther” left on Hollywood but Chadwick’s own legacy comes at the very end though (the first of three, of course. It’s an MCU movie, afterall).

T’Challa has defeated his usurper cousin Erik Killmonger, his rule restored in Wakanda but clearly a changed man from the story’s beginning as he reckons with the complicated legacy of his father. He travels to Oakland, the birthplace of Killmonger, with his sister Shuri who he explains the crime committed by their father in this place and how it set off the events of the story. He turns to Shuri, tells her that he has decided to help this afflicted community by creating a Wakandan outreach center for the youth to give them a new hope in life. As he says this he decloaks their ship nearby, surprising the youth already in the area who are immediately in awe of it. One of the kids turns to T’Challa, smiling, a sense of inspiration and intrigue brewing inside, and asks “Who are you?” to which the young King simply smiles, then the credits roll.

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It’s a simple scene but it truly speaks to the impact left behind by Chadwick and the importance of representation.

“Black Panther” is hardly the first starring vehicle for a black man, it’s not even the first black super hero movie but what it made it different is it was the first blockbuster to truly lean unapologetically into its African identity to focus on the inspiration of a story centered around that culture. It showed Hollywood that an action blockbuster not just centered on a black star but centered on African culture had vast widespread appeal.

White kids will never have a shortage of white superheroes to grow up with on the big screen; a diverse palette of Supermans, Spider-mans, Captain Americas, and shit we’re even getting our sixth new Batman actor since 1989 soon. But Chadwick gave black kids their first real Superman of their own.

In the years since this came out, I have seen the influence, at times, firsthand among the youth. I work part-time as a kids martial arts instructor and each Halloween party we’ve held I’ve seen a few more T’Challas among the costumes represented. When I ask kids, black, white, or Asian, what their favorite superhero is, it always warms my heart to see a kid light up when they say “BLACK PANTHER!”

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(Seriously, cute AF)

This goes beyond just my anecdotal observations of course; the film grossed a billion dollars, and there are countless videos online of kids yelling “Wakanda forever!” at the top of their lungs while rocking a Black Panther suit or reciting one of the movie’s memorable lines. It’s beautiful because it speaks to that last scene’s key message; inspiration.

Growing up myself, as a half Asian American, there weren’t a ton of role models who looked like me to take inspiration from. I didn’t really understand how much this could affect me until I finally did start seeing people like myself occupy positions of influence. I didn’t start caring for baseball until I saw a slugger named Hideki Matsui smash a couple dingers in a Yankees’ uniform in the early 2000s. I didn’t care much for martial arts, outside my very early youth, until I witnessed a half Japanese Brazilian named Lyoto Machida KO Thiago Silva at UFC 94 in 2009. I didn’t care much for soccer until a striker named Keisuke Honda played out of his mind in the early rounds of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Sometimes you gotta see something happen in order to believe and be inspired by it and it’s easier to visualize it when you see someone who looks like you do it. That’s what representation means and why it’s important.

It’s easy for white America to dismiss the need for representation in media when theirs is so saturated in the culture everyday. Cries of “wHaT aBoUt wHiTe HiStORy mOnTH?!” delivered unironically while their history is proudly given front seat consideration in all forms of media, film, and influence every day. This is why it drives me so crazy when a white person tells me “representation isn’t important” because apparently, they “don’t need it.”

Well motherfucker, of course you don’t need it. You fucking got yours already!

(What every non-white person wants to say when confronted with this tired, out of touch argument...)

“Black Panther” delivered a superhero that not only black children could be proud of and love but someone they could draw inspiration from. Kids are going to want to become film directors cause of this movie, actors, stuntmen, martial artists, scientists, engineers, and so many other different things that the world of Wakanda proudly showcases and it’s all thanks to Chadwick’s leading man performance that made it possible.

Some jokes I’ve heard frequently on the internet is that Chadwick was on somewhat of a quest to play every major black role in story-telling history, what with performances as Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, James Brown, and of course Black Panther. But I think his 2018 speech at his Alma Mater of Howard really explains why he kept looking to play these major positive black roles.

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(I encourage you to listen to the whole thing but the part that’s important here begins at 21:55)

Hollywood likes to pigeon hole certain demographics of people (aka non-white) to play stereotypical roles forever until they are proven to be lucrative in different ways (Qualified Immunity of film-making if you will…). Black people largely could mostly play thugs and drug dealers, Latinx can only be gang bosses and poor servants and gardeners, Asians are either kung fu masters or some other offensive perpetual foreigner. And in worst cases no role at all, instead whitewashed for general audiences (aka white folk).

Chadwick took a stand that the color of his skin did not define who Hollywood narrowly believed he could perform as and set out to play characters and people who could inspire a new generation of African Americans and show the rest of the country that they were more than a stereotype.

When that young kid in that final scene asks, “Who are you?” and T’Challa smiles its because he knows he’s already changing hearts and minds for the future, just as Chadwick did playing this truly inspirational role.

“Black Panther” is not a perfect movie. I could discuss the ways it could’ve been better and even, less problematic in parts on a different day, but the legacy it leaves behind is one that’s undeniably positive and Chadwick was able to make that a reality. Perhaps he understood that if the world knew his diagnosis it would blunt the impact of “Black Panther’s” release, that if little kids and African Americans alike knew their superhero was already dying it would mar the film’s positivity and influence. I can’t speak for the dead obviously, and in no way am I saying one should just push through a cancer diagnosis and keep it secret, but I can see Chadwick understanding what it would mean for the audience if they just believed for as long as possible that they would have their king of Wakanda forever.

As Robert Downey Jr. said on social media last night “He leveled the playing field while fighting for his life.”

Though I will never know him personally, by most measures Chadwick seemed to be exactly the kind of hero he showed up to be on the big screen and his legacy will ultimately be that of one who looked to inspire others, particularly the next generation until his final breath. If that doesn’t make him a hero, I don’t know what does.

Rest in power, King. Wakanda Forever…

(Via BossLogic)

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sarah-writes-marvel · 3 years

Text

Don’t: Bucky Barnes x Reader (platonic)

S.S: Heyo, its been a while since posting a story so here you go! BE CAUTIOUS!!! This fic ca nbe ver ytrigger so read at your own risk! Thank you guys hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!

Warnings: !!TW!! cutting, depressive/sucidial thoughts, anxiety, bleeding, needles, MAJOR ANGST and some fluff

Word Count: 1,798

Again, please read at your own risk!! Thank you!!

MASTERLIST

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The events of Endgame had affected everybody. The loss of Tony, Nat, and Vision, the resignation of Cap, Thor off in space, and Bruce was somewhere in Europe helping develop cures for diseases, everything had changed. There were only a few who stayed around the reconstructed compound anymore. Those few including Bucky, Wanda, Sam, and me.

It was usually quiet, sometimes Pepper, Morgan, and Rhodes stopped by to see how things were going. Peter always came after school to see if we needed help on missions. T’challa and Shuri always checked in over the video call, same with many of our off-world allies. Valkyrie even checked in every once in a while, per Thor’s request when he couldn’t. It was nice, but nothing would ever be the same, and everyone knew that.

We each had our own ways of coping. The four of us that lived in the compound did our best not to bother each other. Bucky usually locked himself in his room, Sam went on runs, Wanda meditated and I blasted music so loud that I couldn’t hear my thoughts. It probably wasn’t the best way to cope but if it helped, it helped.

It was one of those days where memories flooded and tears fell without a second thought, so I plugged in my headphones and laid back in my bed getting lost in the bass vibrating in my eardrums. I watched the blades of my ceiling fan turn painfully slow while the urge to eat crept on me. I turned to my clock and realized that it was around noon and I hadn’t eaten since sometime yesterday. So I wiped the few stray tears away and managed to roll out of bed, feeling the cold wooden floor beneath my feet.

I pulled an earbud from my ear, even turned the music down just slightly as I walked down the hall. Even though there was plenty of room to spread out the four of us decided to share a hallway, the close proximity giving some comfort in the time of difficulty. It was nice.

As I passed a certain door, the sound of a muffled cry reached my ear. It was Bucky’s door. I understood why it had been so hard for him to lose Steve. He had been Bucky’s anchor in life, and his comforter after the whole Hydra situation. He had to put on a brave face before Steve left to return the stones, knowing that the punk of a friend would stay and live his life. He had to bite back the tears when he saw Steve sitting on the wooden bench, hair turned white from age and skin wrinkled.

I took a step closer, removing my other earbud and pausing my music so I could hear better, pressing my ear gently against the door. Another strangled sob came from the other side along with a guttural scream. I felt awful, I wanted to check in but I didn’t want to bother him if he just wanted to be left alone. But I went against the latter and gently knocked on the door.

“Bucky? Are you ok?” I asked. The only reply I got was muffled sobs. Maybe he hadn’t heard me. So I knocked again a little harder. “Bucky?” Again, nothing but crying.

I took a minute, maybe he just needed a minute before he answered. So I waited, listening to the pained cries until I couldn’t take it.

“Bucky, I’m coming in,” I called through the door. I turned the knob and opened the door to see Bucky on the floor, sitting against the side of his bed, a throwing dagger in his metal hand, and fresh bloody cuts along his flesh forearm.

“Bucky? What are you doing, you’re gonna hurt yourself.” I closed the door before moving towards him, tossing my headphones and phone onto his bed before kneeling beside him. I took the stained knife from his metal grip, tossing it across the floor to pick up later, and pressed my hand over his cuts to minimize the bleeding causing him to hiss in pain.

“Please, please don’t.” he cried, his metal digits wrapping around my wrist.

“Buck, I’m gonna help you no matter how much you might not want it. I’m not gonna leave you,” I told him, looking into his lifeless blue-grey eyes.

“That’s what Steve said, now he’s gone. How do I know you aren’t lying?” his voice was weak and quiet, scared almost.

“I’m not Steve, I’m not going anywhere. I swear on my life,” My hand still pressed against his bleeding cuts. “But this needs to be a mutual agreement, so you cant leave me either. At least not right now. So I need your help, alright? I need you to work with me here Barnes.”

His gaze was hazy but he nodded and let go of his grip on my wrist.

“We need to get you to the bathroom, and I know I might be strong but your much heavier than you look, no offense.” I smile, trying to bring some light to the situation. Luckily I saw a small smirk form on his paling face before he nodded again.

I removed my hold on his arm, standing up and reaching my hands down to pull him up, which was successful as he used the bed to help. His left arm wrapped around my shoulder as we shuffled to the bathroom where I set him on the toilet.

I grabbed the darkest washcloth in his cupboard of towels, pressing it against his wrist and placing his metal hand over it.

“I need you to keep the pressure on that, please. I know it probably hurts but you gotta do it,” I commanded gently, squeezing his hand around his arm. He simply nodded as his eyes followed mine lethargically. I continued to look through the cupboards for his first aid kit.

“Top cupboard to the left.” He sounded tired and I didn’t blame him. I had walked in on him sitting in a small puddle of his own blood and the emotional toll this event has all taken on us was more than enough reason to be tired. I opened the cupboard he suggested and retrieved the kit from the shelf opening it quickly and pulling out what I needed.

Even when the blood had been dripping from the cuts I knew some were deep enough for stitches, so I pulled the needle and suture thread from the box, gaining a groan from Bucky.

“I’m sorry but I know those cuts are too deep. It’ll only be a stitch or two and ill make it as painless as possible Buck, you just gotta stay with me.” I replied, looking at him. He replied with a nod as tears streamed down his face. I quickly wiped one away before sending him a small smile and returning to my task.

“Alright hun, we need to clean your arm so I can make clean stitches,” I stated, standing in front of him holding my hands out again to help him to the sink. He took my hands and hauled himself from his position and made his way to sink and began washing the cuts under the running water, wincing at the stinging pain.

Once he was back on his seat, I carefully patted the area dry with the used towel and began stitching the larger cuts. I only paused when Bucky hissed in pain or jerked away after I had pulled the thread through. A chorus of apologizes came from my mouth, and from his.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry.” his usual stern, strong voice was broken and came out in whispers.

“Buck, you dont have to apologize. It’s alright, life gets hard, it’s only logical to find a coping mechanism. It’s ok hun. It’s not your fault.” I cooed, trying to calm him.

“But I do, I just tried to kill myself because, what? Because I’m sad that my friend left me to be happy? How pathetic is that?” He denied, shaking with anger and sadness.

“It’s not pathetic because it is completely valid.” I began pulling the last stitch tight. “Life gets hard, and you have been through hell and back too many times to count. We have to cope with it somehow and pain can be a distraction, though not always the best option.” I continued looking at his sorrowful tear-filled eyes. “Steve was your rock, the person you went to with every issue. And now without him, you feel lost and your drowning under the metaphorical waves of life. So your feelings are valid, and your actions were valid, just not the right way to go about it.” I finished as I wrapped gauze and Coban around the fresh stitches.

A moment of silence filled the bathroom as I finished wrapping his arm and cleaned up the supplies that had been used.

“How are you so good at this? Why weren’t you phased?” he questioned, breaking the eerie silence.

“That, my dear friend, is a conversation for another time. You need to focus on yourself right now.” I said with a smile while I watched my hands.

He looked away, down to his bandaged arm flexing his fist as the muscles shifted the bandage.

“Thanks,” he said quietly. “For helping me.” His eyes looked to mine, the small spark of hope back in his irises.

“It’s what friends do,” I replied. “Now you need some sleep,” I said helping him from the toilet and leading him back to his bed. Moving my phone and headphones out of his way, he settled onto his bed grabbing the fleece blanket from the foot of his bed and pull it over himself.

I carefully help before grabbing my phone and the knife on the floor and turning to leave.

“Wait. I-uh- could you stay? Please.” he sounded like an innocent little boy who was scared of the monsters under the bed.

“Ya, of course I can.” I smiled, crawling into bed next to him. I sat with my back against the headboard, Bucky’s head on my lap, and his bandaged arm wrapped over my legs. My fingers found their way through his brunette locks as his breaths became heavier.

“You know you can always come to me,” I said quietly, leaning my head against the backboard. “I’ll listen, always.”

“You can come to me too. Tell me anything and everything,” he mumbled through his tired state.

“Love ya Buck. Sleep well.” I hummed quietly, closing my eyes.

“Love you too Kenz.” he murmured quietly before the room was filled with soft snores from both the soldier and me.

Things might not go back to how they were but they will get better.

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THanks for reading. IF you ever need someone to talk to if you ever have thoughts like these dont be afraid to send me a message! Im alwasy willing to talk through lifes troubles with soemone if it helps them! Also know that there are hotlines that you can call!

#marvel #fanfic #buckybarnes #wintersoldier #twiggerwarning #depression #anxiety #avengers #avengersendgame #reader insert #bucky barnes x reader #buckybarnesxreader #buckyxreader #wintersoldierxreader #bucky x reader #buckybarnesfanfiction #fluff #winter soldier x reader

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regrettablewritings · 4 years

Text

Preferences: Guilty Pleasures

Characters: Okoye, Lucifer Morningstar, Dewey Finn, Peter B. Parker, Ahkmenrah

Okoye

Okoye is straightforward and stony upon first impressions. And, admittedly, even afterward. The only real difference is that, if one gets to know her better, they might find shock in the fact that in spite of her appearance, she Dora leader actually likes sweets. However, it’s not sweet things in general that Okoye feels guilty for enjoying: It’s Starbucks.

Starbucks is the antithesis of everything Okoye is associated with: Supremely un-Wakandan, a chain establishment, and overall just not worth the absurd cost. Not to mention superbly unhealthy when compared to the rest of a fighter’s typical diet. But yet you can bet that every time she needs to go out of the country or off-continent, there’s an invasive shout for joy at the possibility that she might be able to get her hands on a Frappucino (followed by an internal scolding).

She can’t even explain exactly why she likes it; there are plenty of good, even healthier sweet things back in Wakanda -- heck, back anywhere else!

But it’s a bit like when someone craves the cheap taste of school pizza over a legit pie cooked in a stone hearth: She just loves the sugary sweetness, the application of whipped cream to an already tooth-rottingly saccharine icy drink, the addition of chocolate. But Bast, she also hates it. But ever since T’Challa practically shoved a grande cup of caramel frappucino into her hands, she hasn’t felt entirely the same.

Against her better judgement, she’s more or less unintentionally tried 45% of the menu drink-wise. She doesn’t particularly care much for the food part of the establishment, though if she should ever find herself in one during the fall, she might indulge in a chunky slice of pumpkin bread under the conviction that it’s healthy enough for being gourd-related. Never mind that it’s just a cinnamon mixture with more sugar than actual pumpkin-derived anything.

Really, of all those mentioned on this list, Okoye is the one who probably feels the most disappointed in herself whenever she indulges in her guilty pleasure: It’s a betrayal to her patriotism, to her dignity, and to her attempts to eat healthy. But damn, if this type of betrayal doesn’t taste so addicting . . .

Lucifer Morningstar

The thing about Lucifer is that it’s actually a bit hard for him to feel any regrets over liking anything; he’s the Devil, after all, so his whole thing is about embracing the things that make you feel good. And even besides that, he’s mostly managed to skate by in his time on Earth by categorizing things as Stuff He Likes, Stuff He Tolerates, Stuff He Doesn’t Bother With, and Stuff Humans Seem to Enjoy But He Doesn’t Quite Get. It’s a tad restricted of a system but you can’t argue with results.

However, just because something is difficult doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. The Devil can, in fact, recognize absurdity in liking certain things. Hence why, to a point, he’s fallen prey to his own bizarre pleasures: The Devil has guilty pleasures, and it’s in stupid YouTube videos, Vine, and TikTok.

After he finally drank the Kool-Aid and got himself a smart phone, it was only a matter of time before Lucifer fell down the rabbit hole that is YouTube prank videos and strange uploads about nonsense and animal humor. It was also only a matter of time before he found himself stumbling into Vine compilations. The Celestial is terrifically mystified by the creative power of humans, managing to tell entire stories and peak comedy in only a span of seven seconds. But he’s also quite loathe to have realized it’s been long defunct by the time he’s discovered it.

He’s even more loathe to find himself making references in his daily life: He has actually quietly blurted out, “I sure hope it does” in response to seeing a Road Work Ahead sign, causing Chloe some confusion (and Lucifer lots of embarrassment). He has referred to a culprit as “Jared, Age 19″. Since discovering Vine, there has been at least one night wherein he and a bed mate were sitting there with barbecue sauce on his tiddies, but that was by sheer coincidence.

But eventually the Vine compilation well dried up, and the inevitable transfer over to TikTok happened. And Luci honestly doesn’t know what to make of TikTok. He would describe it as Vine’s Molly-addicted cousin based on its obsession with dancing, but the dances are so stationary that even that doesn’t seem quite right. The videos on the platform are also much more . . . bizarre. And some of them admittedly trigger a fight-or-flight response in him, to which he always chooses the third option of freezing if only so he can keep watching the train wreck unfold before his eyes.

The trouble with TikTok, he’ll admit to himself, is that it’s not as easy to find iconic content the same way he could with Vine. However, this isn’t to say that he hasn’t found anything worth watching over and over and over again . . .

(Let’s just say the “Wolf Pack Compilation” lives in his head rent-free, and he’s both too amused by it and too overwhelmed by its vibe to try and evict it.)

Dewey Finn

Dewey is . . . a special case. Given that he associates messy living and indulging in one’s pleasure a part of the rocker lifestyle, he’s generally quick to embrace whatever makes him happy. He’s very upfront about his interests and is arguably almost incapable of feeling shame. But it’s in there: Deep down. No, not in himself -- in his Spotify. Specifically, a Spotify account made on an email he never uses because it was made specifically to create this separate, uber secret playlist.

One marked “Actual Musical Bops.”

Dewey hates musicals: They’re cheesy, uninspired, gaudy, ridiculous, totally aimed at chicks with weird fantasies that he could never aspire to, and the music is just overall unimpressive. And yet, somehow, against his music elitist nature, a handful have managed to slip through the cracks. At the very least, a handful of numbers have clawed their way past his defenses and into his ear, where they now live rent-free.

In spite of his best efforts, the problems are that he’s a New Yorker, so it’s inevitable that he hears a song or two; and also that, as an instructor (to wealthy New York tweens whose families can afford frequent tripes to the Great White Way, no less), he’s definitely going to wind up hearing about some shows and their stand-out numbers: Against his will, he knows the lyrics to “My Shot”; he has cried in the secrecy of his apartment to “When I Grow Up”; in the never-necessary reason he needs to remember how many minutes there are in a year, he sings it inside his head; hell, he’s even found himself trying to figure out the electric guitar riff from “The Phantom of the Opera” during his down time.

What’s all the more embarrassing is that, given how he presents himself as a music elitist, there’s just no way he can come back from this if anyone were to know. He has to catch himself when he finds himself humming “Johanna” in the teacher’s lounge. He scowls at himself when he can’t sleep and gives in and starts playing “No One is Alone.” He wants to kick his thick ass every time he realizes he’s excited to have stumbled across a “slime tutorial” on YouTube, this one with better quality than the last. The reason he actually put a password on his phone wasn’t out of privacy like a sensible person would, but out of a need to make sure that no one ever found out that he had downloaded the entire Beetlejuice soundtrack, including jankily-recorded songs that never made it to the official cast recording for whatever reason!

And should anyone ever find out about any of this, Dewey has a plan: “Oh, I’m doing research. I’m studying these songs so I can give the kids a lesson on what not to do as actually competent musicians.”

But the lesson would never actually come. Mainly because he keeps prolonging his “research” . . .

He’s also developed a bit of a soft spot for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic due to some students gushing about it, but he would rather sooner die than ever be associated with the term “brony.”

Peter B. Parker

Peter is at a point where he’s too tired to really care about the idea of guilty pleasures. The way he sees it, there are bigger priorities at stake than worrying about someone finding out about your love of some hokey activity or food or form of entertainment.

Besides, he’s a New Yorker: There’s way weirder stuff for people to just not pay any real attention to. Hence why he thinks nothing of his bizarre eating habits. And no, this isn’t referring to his disastrous appetite: This is about his tendency to eat food with his hands. Foods that, well, he really should probably utilize eating utensils for.

To be fair, this habit has always existed in him in some form or another, especially since, as Spider-Man, he often needs to eat food on the go. But during the time he spent living the life of a depressed bachelor, it came out in full force. On the rare occasion he wasn’t eating a food that deserved to be eaten by hand, he often found himself loathing the idea of doing the dishes afterward. There would be days he’d feel only slightly less depressed; enough to make a box of Kraft Mac n Cheese in the pot, but not enough to avoid cutting out the middle man.

He’s thankful the craptastic apartment wasn’t also see-through because if it were, he’s positive his neighbors would’ve thought they were bearing witness to a man’s breakdown as he wept into a pot of macaroni and cheese, his hand full of the stuff, while wearing a Spider-Man costume. (And, to be fair, they actually would be.)

In addition to this, there were also those nights where he would be prepared to actually tuck in to a plate of spaghetti, only for some crime going on elsewhere in the city to drag him away. By the time he’d return, the plate would’ve been cold and his energy too depleted to want to even dream about cleaning more than he already had to.

The great news is that he’s thankfully done a 180, now able and willing (if begrudgingly) to clean up after himself. But bad news is that this feral man will still eat a fully-loaded baked potato like an apple. In a park. In front of women and children. He’s just too tired to care anymore. He’s aware of the guilt in this as a concept, but he’s also aware that he needs to take whatever happiness he can get out of whatever he does. And if that means eating everything by hand, then so be it!

Ahkmenrah

Funnily enough, Ahkmenrah doesn’t seem to experience much of any shame for enjoying the things most might feel the need to hide: He’s constantly curious and has missed out on a lot over the centuries, so why should he feel bad for wanting to indulge in them? Celebrity gossip is just a more fun version of the palace gossip he’d grown up hearing as a boy; reality TV is like watching a play, but with much more fights, less deaths, and more faulty romances; and sloppy meatball subs are like a feast for a man of his time!

Besides, he’s a king: Kings shouldn’t have to feel embarrassment over what the common folk might think.

And yet . . . It took some time, but eventually Ahkmenrah did experience it: Guilt in his pleasures.

He couldn’t even recall where it had all started. Maybe he was searching for more content to swallow after the most recent season of his new favorite show had ended? Whatever the case, he wound up biting off more than he could chew when he stumbled upon . . . fanfiction.

The adorable yet sad thing is that he didn’t even think anything of it at first. It wasn’t until he brought up a ship he’d invested his last few nights awake exploring on the computer: Nobody knew what the crap he was talking about, so of course he felt the need to explain it. But the more he talked, the more perplexed his friends looked. And the more he could feel his cheeks and ears burn.

Oh, he thought. Is this . . . embarrassment? Is that what this feels like? Oh, this is just foul.

Thankfully, nobody pressured him to keep talking about it, but the poor king sure as heck didn’t feel much of a desire to talk any further about it. But he needed to talk to somebody about his newly acquired “feels” as those online were calling them.

Joining fanfiction-oriented sites was the next obvious step, of course, but he’s experienced mixed feelings about it: On one hand, it’s nice to talk with people who share similar views and excitement about a fictional couple. But on the other, the digital wars that have broken out both disturb him and bring out the worst in him.

Like, of course there are bigger things to deal with than whether or not So-So is better off with Him-Ham, but if you truly think that Blah-Blah and Himhaw are a healthy relationship, then you can go do a service and bury yourself in the desert sands to provide substance to the hungry beetles with your flesh --

Suffice to say, a lot of the guilt in this pleasure seems to come from the fact that Ahk can get a little too emotionally invested if the work is really good. He tries to limit his interactions to commenting and praising certain works, and encouraging content creators. However, he’s also contemplated contributing his own pieces of fiction to the fandom . . .

#okoye #lucifer morningstar imagines #dewey finn #peter b parker imagines #ahkmenrah #okoye imagines #lucifer imagines #dewey finn imagines #ahkmenrah imagines #regrettablewritings #spiderman into the spiderverse imagines #spiderman itsv imagines #spiderman imagines #i tried posting this on my phone and it literally fucking deleted EVERYTHING #anyway @staff: the fuck is up? fix that shit because now i literally cannot post SHIT on my phone from my laptop #preference #preferences

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just-dreaming-marvel · 4 years

Text

Love Is Not Forced ~ 35

MASTERLIST

< previous chapter

Word Count: 1,550ish

Summary: King Steven wakes up. Y/N and Steven plan for the wedding.

NOTES: This is the last chapter of this series. I have no words that can fully explain how much the love this series has gotten, has meant to me. Thanks so much for everything. One shot requests for this series are open, if you wish to see anything else. Thanks again, for everything!

They waited in the Princess’ room all through the night and well into the morning. They were all restless, pacing continuously, besides the Princess. Y/N had yet to get out of bed since being put there. She was too terrified to move. It was almost afternoon when the doctors arrived.

“The King lost a lot of blood,” the head doctor spoke. “But we believe that with much rest, he will be fine.”

“Really?” Y/N breathed out.

“Yes, Your Highness. You may visit him if you like.”

No one could stop Y/N from jumping out of bed and rushing out of the room. She was faster than they believed she could be after that long, restless night. But no one was going to stop her from seeing the King. She froze in the doorway, a whimper sounding from her lips. Steven looked worse than he had yesterday, but he was clearly breathing steady breaths. She slowly moved over to him, sitting down in the chair beside his bed. She carefully took his hand, moving her head down to place a kiss on the back of it.

“I’m so sorry,” she cried. “I’m so sorry…”

Y/N stayed by his side for days. Only moving when she needed to bathe or change. Food and drink was brought to her, and the doctors and nurses understood that they had to work around her. As she sat by Steven’s side, she read, wrote letters to her her family, and began wedding planning. It was in the early hours of day three when Steven finally woke up. He was greeted by the site of Y/N sitting at his side, writing. He imagined falling asleep and waking up to that every day.

“My darling,” Steven croaked.

Y/N’s head snapped up. “Oh, Steven.” She set her things down and moved closer to him. “You’re finally awake.”

“Are you sure? Cause… I think I died and went to heaven… there’s an angel at my side…”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Oh my, you did lose a lot of blood… that being said, how are you feeling?”

“I’m okay… And I’ll get better, as long as you’re by my side.”

“Always.”

Y/N sent for more of her things to be brought to Brooklyn, explaining to her Father that she wasn’t leaving until Steven was fully healed. She cared for Steven, diligently. Learning out to change his wraps, feeding him, helping him move. When he got stronger, she joined him for walked around the castle until he was strong enough to walk down to the beach. While they walked, they talked of their future, mainly the wedding. It took about two months for Steven to return to his full strength. In that time, almost all of Y/N’s things had been moved to the castle in Brooklyn and the wedding had been planned.

It took place almost another month after Steven was healed. All the kingdoms were invited to attend. The castle was bursting with movement all the time. People bringing gifts, cleaning rooms, preparing food. Then a few days before the wedding, the guests began to arrive. Beginning with the royal families from each kingdom. King Anthony couldn’t keep his mouth shut about how excited he was for his daughter to wed. But in his heart, he was scared to let her go. Upon arriving, King T’Challa asked to speak with the Princess alone. She led them to the beach.

“I wanted to talk to you, Princess,” T’Challa started, “just to share my congratulations. And how proud I am of you. Since I have met you, you have been met with unsurmountable difficulties. But you have handle them with more grace than anyone thought was possible.”

The Princess stopped, causing T’Challa to stop as well. She pulled him into her arms. “Thank you, T’Challa. For always believing in me.”

The night before the wedding, Y/N was too nervous to sleep. She found her way to the beach, with the guards knowing that she was there this time. She fiddled with her fingers as she watched the waves crash against the shore line.

“Getting cold feet, my darling?” Steven’s voice sounded behind her.

“Not at all,” she answered, leaning into him as he wrapped his arms around his waist. “Just nervous… what are you doing out here?”

“Couldn’t sleep. Figured that if you felt the same, I would find you out here.” The stood together in silence, watching the waves, until Steven spoke up again. “Why are you nervous?”

“All the people. And… and the thought of something bad happening tomorrow… I guess… I guess I just wish that it could be the two of us and whoever we chose to preform the ceremony.”

“What if it can be just the two of us?” Steven moved so that he was standing beside Y/N. “We can make promises right here, right now. Just the two of us as people in love. Then tomorrow can be for everyone else, the political way.” He grabbed her hands, turning her to face him. “But tonight, let’s have it be just us.”

“Who could we get at this time of night? And who as the authority?”

“I know just the person.”

Leaving Y/N on the beach, Steven quickly found T’Challa and asked him to preform a small ceremony. T’Challa quickly agreed and followed Steven to the beach.

“T’Challa?” Y/N wondered, as the men walked onto the beach.

“Steven has asked me to preform a small ceremony,” T’Challa explained. “It would be my honor.”

Steven and Y/N moved to stand right next to the water, with T’Challa on the sand. They grabbed onto each other’s hands, looking lovely into each other’s eyes.

“We have gathered here tonight to bind two souls in love,” T’Challa began. “Two souls who have not had the easiest lives or the easiest time with love. But who have fought for what they wanted, and succeeded in getting it. Now, Steven, do you have some words to share with Y/N?”

“My darling, our story didn’t start out easy,” Steven said, gently. “Mostly due to me. And I will never be able to apologize enough for the pain I have caused you. That is why I want to spend my days with you, serving you, making that pain up to you. I long to do everything in my power to make you smile everyday. I promise to make you the happiest woman in the world.” A tear slipped down Steven’s cheek. “To cherish you every second of every day. To always show you how much I care. I promise that you will be the first thing and last thing on my mind everyday. Tonight, I vow to protect you always and forever and, if we are blessed with children, to protect them until my last breath. And finally, I promise to love you past the end of our days.”

“Y/N? Anything you’d like to share with Steven?”

“You were always there,” Y/N said, trying to not to cry. “Even when I didn’t want you there, you never left my side. And now, here on this beach that I fell in love with you on, I promise to you that I will always be at your side. That I will be your listening ear when you need and your hand to hold. I promise that I will always try and make up for the pain that I have caused you. The pain that you went through in trying to be by my side. I promise be the one you wake up to in the middle of the night, when you can’t sleep, or in the morning after a good night of rest. I promise to never take you for granted and to always honor you. I promise to bear your children and rise them to be as kind and gentle as their father.” Y/N failed to keep the tears at bay. “And lastly, I promise to love you each and every day until well past the end of our days.”

“Well then, Steven, do you take this woman to be your wife?”

“I do,” he smiled at Y/N.

“And do you, Y/N, take take this man to be your husband?”

“I do,” she grinned at Steven.

“Then by the power and authority given to me by the crown, I know pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Steven pulled Y/N into him, allowing their lips to collide in a passion neither of them had felt before. T’Challa smiled, slipping away to give the lovebirds some time alone. As she and Steven made out on the side of the beach, waves crashing onto their feet, Y/N realized that there was no place she’d ever want to be. Standing in the safety Steven’s arms, on the beach where she fell in love with him. When they finally pulled away, they were all smiles. They knew nothing could go too far tonight, but they were okay with just being alone in each others arms. Tomorrow could be for everyone else. For tonight, tonight was made for just the two of them. Just two people in love.

one shots:

THE HEIR

LOVE ME

WAR

Again, thanks for all the love. One shot requests for this series are open, if you wish to see anything else.

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