#ldatfwc

[evanstarff]

Test Drive

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Word Count: 2300

Summary: Bucky Barnes catches feelings after a mission. There is one bed.

Warnings: Language. Bits of smut and lots of longing. Mostly fluff – disgusting, I know.

A/N: This is for the lovely @sourpatchkidsandacokecan's Little Darlin’s All Things Fall Writing Challenge – I'm about 84 weeks behind thanks to Real Life™ I'M SO SORRY. My prompt was "At least we're cozy now." which is in bold and italics below. 🖤

Masterlist here, lovers.

---------

Frost stretched long, cool fingers across the windshield and Bucky was just about to eat his goddamn limbs to stem the cold from seeping in.

The light was getting smaller, quieter, soft falling snow swirled about outside, all sound cottoned out and the warmth sparse in the vehicle as it rattled along the asphalt. The radiator of the old, apparently nondescript box of metal some called a car had just about heaved its last, warm breath – unsurprising, considering the 1965 model in the deepest shade of fuck you blue probably groaned its way through half the most momentous events of the last fifty odd years.

"Seriously, can't you drive any faster?" you asked, feet jammed beneath your weight in some pitiful attempt to warm them.

"You wanna drive, darlin'?" he shot back, an impish grin lighting up the inky shade of night in the car.

"Nah, I reckon you're doing just fine, darlin'." A lilt on the second to last syllable and Bucky had half a mind to kiss that sly, delicious smile off your face.

You watched his eyes gleam and glow in the dim light of the dashboard, licked your lips slowly, quietly, bit your bottom lip just because you wanted to. Leather knuckles gripped the wheel a little tighter, the accelerator floored a little harder and you huffed a laugh, breath casting fog on the windowpane. Bucky zeroed in, took half a turn, then another, trying to focus on the drive – the drive, the radiator, and the hundred or so minutes he still had to clear before Wilson started harassing his ass for not being able to keep the damn time.

"Knew we should've left earlier," you mumbled, words clattering cold and fingers going numb.

Your breath was coming slower now, air coming easier too, anxiety trodden down and assuaged in slow motion as the distance between the finished mission and the semblance of home grew closer. Exhaustion seeped through tired muscles, aching in a way that felt good, but not so good that a month-long nap wouldn't be welcomed with open arms.

Bucky glanced over to the passenger side as the light of the moon crept higher into the inky night sky. The odometer ticked along as the minutes crept by and for a little while, the sound of your breathing, your steady heartbeat all curled up in the seat beside him was the calmest thing in the small hours of the world.

---

The car pulled up to the safehouse in about half an hour less than he bargained, the dim light of the street casting a sickly pale glow amidst the humble little home before him. Bucky flicked off the engine, pulled the leather from his fingers with this teeth and looked over to the passenger side.

You were still sound asleep, carefully folded like origami into the seat, your hands tucked beneath your arms. The stark light painted you all aglow, and the effect seeped through his heart with some strange, unspoken feeling. The radiator had held out as long as it could, but it seemed you ran cold while he ran hot.

A quiet kind of heat seemed to flood Bucky's chest and he swallowed, ignoring it as he ignored all your pleasantries throughout the mission – half a tease here, the gleam of a grin there, then came the flirting you often traced through conversation with the target before the flash of gunshots and the crunch of a broken bone told them otherwise.

It was a simple one – one target, one location, recon was quick and easy, location a little further from the perimeter than you'd initially planned. Simple at least if not for the training marathon he'd put you through the week before. He knew you were exhausted, and he was half-sorry for it – perhaps more than he wanted to admit.

No matter, Bucky decided, flicking a quick message to Sam to confirm you'd both arrived. The dim glow of a pin number and 4-digit room followed soon after and Bucky paused at the car door, conscious of the creak that would come when he opened it.

"Afraid of waking me?" came your voice, thick from sleep despite the cold, thin air outside, and Bucky stilled, face a little too close, too warm from your own and you swallowed, sure he had noticed the mild spike in your heartbeat.

"You broke the target's collarbone," he deadpanned, though his eyes glimmered, full of mirth. "Can't be too careful."

"I'm sure you've seen worse," you replied, shivering in spite of yourself, and pulled your comms device out.

"It's alright," Bucky said unprompted and unclipped your seatbelt, the warmth of his body, his presence all musk and heat too close to contain as he moved away again. "Already checked in with Sam. He gave us the room number."

"Number," you repeated carefully. "Us."

"One room," he replied, gathering his things and exited the car, not thinking to wait for your reply.

Bucky started towards the designated room for the evening, autumn leaves crunching beneath his boots. You watched him for a while, the strong line of his shoulders, hair cropped and cornered, silhouette in shades of darkness as he drew closer toward the building. Shaking your head, you took stock of your own things and chose to ignore the growing sense of yearning, hot anxiety – adrenaline, fear, astonishment and then some, the feeling sinking deeper into your heart.

---

"One room," you repeated, surveying the space. One bed, you chose not to say as you dumped your things by the desk and began to peel off your tactical gear. Boots by the door, locked and tacked shut – a habit from a different past, percolated with fear of being tracked by anyone but those closest to you.

Bucky was silent, deciding not to state the obvious and made for the bathroom. He unravelled himself from his own suit and couldn't hold back the groan as he peeled the jacket from his waist.

"You alright?" came your voice, mild concern and Bucky winced as he cleared the fabric from his skin.

"Fine," he replied, tried to shove the bathroom door closed, but you had other ideas.

"You're hurt," you said, face materialising in the doorframe, full of concern and a small part of him liked it, the way your voice grew firm and small in equal measure. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Too busy driving," Bucky replied, his smile grim. "I'm fine."

"Sure you are," you answered, eyeing him warily, trying to decide whether to keep your distance, try to stem the building affection clean off your face – or embrace him wholly, completely, with everything you held back from the days before to the seconds now.

"It's fine," he repeated, a little more firmly this time – a way to keep you at arm's length, moreso to keep the growing tension from entering the only space he might be able to have for himself for the night.

"It's fine, it'll heal by morning – I'm 101 years old, not dead," you riffed off and Bucky half-yelped as cool fingers touched the skin of his pelvis, decision made now and you huffed a chuckle. "That's what you always say."

"What would you have me say?" he asked, though he was grinning now, heart going wild, a little stupid as you brought your face closer to his waist, hands careful, with careful eyes inspecting the graze.

"That you're hurt?"

"Except that I'm not," he breathed, hands of skin and metal closing over your own. Bucky pulled you up to eye-level, quiet now, breath going slow as he stopped, waited, then spoke at last.

"Are you worried?"

"I'm always worried," you answered before you could stop yourself, voice going small and soft and nervous. "I know you can take care of yourself, but sometimes I think–" and you shivered in spite of yourself.

"You're cold," Bucky said, noting your goose-prickled skin beneath the undershirt you wore.

"It's cold outside," you laughed as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Why, aren't you?"

"I was once," he replied, the softest smile on those sweetest lips. "Not so much these days."

"Right," you answered, the word simple and dumb in your mouth, trying your best not to swallow your tongue and focus on swallowing the growing emotions in your throat instead.

Silence stretched longer than it probably should have, making the room feel larger, more hollow and speaking volumes more than either of you would admit to say. The fluorescent light did little to hide the tired lines in his handsome face, pretty cheekbones carved to the touch, prettier eyes like a simmering sea, and that mouth you couldn't stop thinking about as the days with him grew more and more.

You were acutely aware of how close he was and Bucky was too, the warmth almost radiating from his skin, hemline of his shirt pulled back down over the graze, down to something more akin to sensibility, until he broke the reverie and spoke again.

"See?" Bucky touched your hands again, the warm enclosure doing little to stem the fuzzy kind of feeling that set off from your fingers to your face, spreading through you, melting your insides so that you almost felt grateful for it. "All healed."

He pressed your hands to his wound, clean skin beneath your palm smooth and hot and you were sure the space seemed to grow smaller in these few moments.

You bit your lip, habit, stupidity, maybe both, and glanced at him, so sure your face was the spitting image of confessions made raw.

"Listen," he started, finding the right words, felt his brain go a little foggy. "Thank you," he stemmed the laugh in his throat. "For worrying, I mean."

"Anytime," you replied, tilting your face to his own, taking in those eyes, all blue and full and affection brimming. You meant to step away, give him some semblance of privacy, but of course, desire took you elsewhere, kept you planted, made you bite your lips again, lick them like some broken, nervous record on repeat to keep yourself busy.

Bucky was looking at you now, really looking like he was seeing you for the first time in a long time. His hands left your own now, fingers tracing the line of your jaw, your cheek, a single breath for luck and then his mouth was on yours or yours were on his, bodies pressing closer to each other, hot, hot heat, and pushing his lower back against the stupid bathroom vanity.

He reached for you, metal on your hips and you broke the kiss, against your better, your worse judgement, angling away just a little, words shaped in your mouth. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to–"

And where did that sharp, tenacious creature he adored from the mission just gone, he wondered. You were unguarded now, glancing at him, lips full and wanting, eyes unsure, and Bucky kissed you again.

"Don't be," he breathed, chest, heart, skin all giddy and sparking bliss through his entire body. Legs wrapped about his waist and he swallowed your giggles with his hungry mouth, his body hard and smooth against yours, clothes pushed to your knees, up past your wrists as you half-stumbled to the one bed and Bucky almost laughed at the thought.

"What," you asked somewhere in between his kisses against your throat and the motion of his long, lean, delightful body rubbing all hot against yours.

"Nothing," he replied, kissing your cheek, nose, mouth, then down, down, down between your thighs until you were shaking, your hands making short work of his chestnut strands, and you a shivery mess he took pride in pulling apart for the very first time.

It was too hot now, covers thrown clean off, sheets tangled through your legs as Bucky moved you, with you, inside you, then you him, fixing him between your legs, straddled him just how you wanted it before he was a solid pillar made warm and pliant beneath you. His clever mouth went everywhere, hands of skin and metal hot everywhere else, sliding a hand just there, the other cupping your cheek, drifting to your throat, just there – yes, oh god yes, right there. A thumb pressed just so, held you just right, all coiled tight and sweet, and he kissed you rough and desperate, so deeply, full of longing and tenderness, trying to pour every ounce of desire into this moment where the edges seemed to blur. The feeling seemed to climb, higher and higher, brighter and hotter, until it was too much, too hot, the feel of him engulfing you, and you were crying pleasure, biting the metal of his hard, clever fingers.

---

Much later now, the lingering frost trapped outside with nowhere to go for the night when you mumbled from beneath the sheets. "At least we're cozy now."

Bucky laughed, the sound almost hazy, a little worn, but full of delight as he tucked his face into the warm hollow of your pretty throat, peppered kisses on your skin.

"Thanks to you or me?" he asked, shifting against his better judgement, lifting his face to match your own.

"Why not both, darlin'?" you answered, tempting and teasing, feeling the vibrations of his chest against yours as Bucky laughed, the heat of him so wonderful, so loving and sweet, lazy pleasure spreading through his skin.

"Sure, darlin'," he replied. "Whatever you want," and then he kissed you, slow and sweet with the promise of the morning and all the ones after too.

---

Feel free to send an Ask for all yelling and good vibes! 🖤

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[wkemeup]

In the Embers

summary: Bucky finds his burdens weigh a little less when he’s with you pairing: bucky x reader word count: 4.6k warnings: self-loathing!bucky, PTSD symptoms, talkin bout ✨S P A C E✨ a/n: this was done for @sourpatchkidsandacokecan writing challenge! I had the prompt “I’m having a bonfire. You should join me” and because im incapable of writing fluff without first prefacing it with angst, I apologize. (Also included anon’s request of playing with Bucky’s hair)

The universe simply wouldn’t let Bucky Barnes set right all the wrongs he’d committed in his life. He was certain that in every attempt he made to step closer to the light, the cold embrace of a cruel, empty darkness would shove him several paces back and down into the abyss of a never-ending pit, leaving him with no way to climb back up to the surface.

The universe would find a way to keep him alienated from those who worked so tirelessly to help him, to make sure he stayed as lost and broken as Hydra made him to be, to ensure that he never made amends for his crimes the way he so desperately needed.

He was never meant for anything more, he supposed. He was tempting fate at it was, just simply continuing to live after all he’d done.

Perhaps he should have known his first mission with the Avengers would be a colossal failure. It was supposed to be simple, something to ease him back into the field; something his stupid, mushed up brain should have been able to comprehend, but he couldn’t even do that, could he?

No. Instead, when Bucky was meant to stand guard while Natasha finished downloading the software she was assigned to extract from the Hydra warehouse, he’d been distracted. He lost his focus for only a moment; his eyes having darted over to a room on his right. No, a cell. A prison.

It looked too much like the one he’d seen in his nightmares; the one he only got bits and pieces of in his memories. He recognized the cement flooring and the metal door with bars over the impenetrable glass. He knew the faint discoloration of red along the floor in the hallway leading into the room, like a bloodied body had been dragged and thrown inside without remorse. The smell of something decaying burned in his noise and his breath felt shallow in his lungs.

He knew this wasn’t where he was held. Steve had been able to track down enough answers for him to know Hydra had never kept him in South America, but it was just so familiar. He froze up, hands sweating and heart pounding so loud he was certain someone might hear it through the coms. His breaths were too pained, too fast, and he didn’t notice the Hydra agent come up on his left and lunge at Natasha.

A knife scraped along her arm as she attempted to dodge the attack and her yelp was the only thing that shocked Bucky back to his body. He rushed in to help, but it was already too late. The Hydra agent had managed to destroy the computer before the download was finished and alerted the entire building the Avengers were present.

Red flashing lights and sirens echoed in the halls as Natasha sprinted past him. She shot him a look; something of frustration and understanding mixed in one, and Bucky clenched his jaw so tightly he was sure it would never unlock again. He chased after her, escaping the influx of dozens of Hydra agents because he knew staying to fight wasn’t an option.

The jet was quiet on the way home. Fury had called in for an update and Bucky all but slumped into his seat in an effort to disappear as Steve reported the mission had failed. Stark, who was still getting used to the idea of having Bucky around in the first place, was grumbling under his breath, staring daggers at the reformed Winter Soldier and Bucky couldn’t help but think Steve should have just come out with it and told the director that he was the one that fucked up.

Steve was too understanding, too forgiving of his old friend, and everyone on the jet knew it. It was the disappointment in Steve’s eyes that hurt more than anything else. He thought Bucky was ready for something like this, thought Bucky was stronger than he was, but he wasn’t.

He was weak, and pathetic, and set to lose it at any given second. He was a raging mess of trauma and panic attacks and nothing he did seemed to make any of it better. Steve should have known not to trust him. He could barely trust himself.

Hours after the jet landed, Bucky sat alone in the dark of the living room, clutching at his hair enough to burn in his scalp, hunched over on his knees. He didn’t know why he even bothered to leave his room after the team returned, but the walls were just so white, his lack of belongings so evident, it left a kind of emptiness hanging in the air mirrored to that in his chest.

The whole team was elsewhere, no one around to witness his unbridled self-loathing and poor attempts to pull himself together. Steve and Stark were still holed up in meetings and attempting to explain why the team would need additional resources to run the mission again to extremely disgruntled higher ups in the Pentagon. Natasha and Sam were sparring down in the gym, getting out their frustration and testing the limits of their aching muscles. Clint was off at the farm with his family, where the guy belonged. Thor was still out in space doing who knows what.

And Bucky?

Bucky was alone.

Until, he heard the soft patter of footsteps sneaking down the hall, a light humming through the air that sent a shiver down his spine, just enough to lift his hands from his head and peak over the edge of the couch.

You whizzed around the kitchen, headphones in and swaying your hips along to a song Bucky could only vaguely hear; something with a light, melodic beat and lyrics you clearly didn’t know the words to. Smile on your face and wrapped up in dark black leggings, a sweatshirt that looked to be about twice your size, fuzzy slippers and a worn scarf, you gathered items from the pantry and set them on the countertop.

Bucky watched, not noticing that his anxiety had started to go down as you filtered through old cereal boxes and dug out a box of graham crackers from the back of the shelf and tossed a bag of marshmallows onto the counter. You dug into the plastic bag and popped one of the white clouds into your mouth with a content sigh, almost a moan, and Bucky found his lips curve just a little. Certainly not enough for anyone to notice, but enough that muscles were used that hadn’t been in a while.

Next, you snuck a block of a chocolate bar from the top shelf Bucky was almost positive belonged to Sam. As you turned back to the counter, gathering everything up in your hands, you froze, eyes falling on Bucky and a breath hitched in his lungs.

You slowly removed your headphones, raising an eyebrow as a smile easily pushed on your cheeks.

“Whatcha doin’ sitting in the dark like that?” you asked, voice sweet as ever and Bucky swore his face must have been beet red from the rush of heat in his cheeks.

He swallowed nervously, hands raking through his hair to tame the mess he’d created as he nearly ripped it out just moments earlier. He stood, slowly, and realizing his legs were a little numb from how long he’d been sitting there.

“Nothing,” he replied, straightening out the wrinkles on his pants. He looked down and realized he was still wearing his stealth suit. You must have noticed too because you started to laugh a little. It made Bucky’s stomach twist in knots. 

He turned to leave, needed to get out before he made an even bigger fool of himself. You were the last person he wanted to know that he was as broken and damaged as the rest of them thought.

“Well, if you’re not doing anything,” you called after him, unbothered as Bucky tried to escape the room, a mischievous smile on your face as you gathered up your snacks. “I’m having a bonfire. You should join me.”

Bucky froze in his tracks, a careful look over his shoulder. “What?”

You nodded, walking closer to him. “I mean, you should change first. Can’t imagine Kevlar and thigh holsters will be very comfortable out there. Dress warm, alright?”

You turned to walk away, just assuming he’d come because you always did think the best of him, despite having absolutely no reason to. Bucky watched as you practically skipped down the rest of the hall, waiting impatiently by the elevator, and you sent him a beaming smile before you stepped inside. If Bucky didn’t know better, he might have thought he was dreaming.

He’d only been living at the compound for a few months now since his pardon and he’d largely kept to himself. He'd take long runs outside alone and eat most of his meals in his room. Never one to initiate interaction, though he agreed to spar with Steve and Sam on occasions. Throwing fists was easier than talking. Talking was how his demons seemed to fall out. He’d say the wrong thing or remind Steve that he wasn’t who he used to be and he’d just get those sad, disappointed eyes again.

Steve never meant to make him feel so unwanted. He knew that, but Steve longed for Bucky as he was before the war, forgetting that pieces of him were still right here; damaged and broken, but still here.

Things were different with you. You never once asked him to be anything he wasn’t. You never stepped around eggshells or treated him like he was something to be feared. You never left the room as soon as he’d walk in and often purposefully went out of your way to ask him what he was doing that day or to include him in whatever pop culture argument you were having with Sam, even though Bucky couldn’t begin to follow what you were talking about. You’d invite him to every movie night, no matter how often he declined. You encouraged him to come to the publicity events and promised to make fun of Sam the whole time if he came.

Try as you did, you never could get Bucky to open up.

Except for tonight, it seemed.

He appreciated your gesture more than he admitted; out loud and to himself. He did start to notice the way his stomach hurt when you’d be a day overdue on your check-in’s while on missions overseas and how he often glanced over to your spot on the couch when you weren’t around. He noticed that his heart skipped a little when you’d touch his shoulder as you walked by and how your smile seemed to always make him blush.

He put too many rules on himself; so easily giving into the voice that reminded him that he deserved to be alone and isolated and without someone as kind and forgiving as you. He wondered, if maybe he told that voice to shove it, if he could find an ounce of something other than self-deprecation tonight. Any time spent with you would be better than his original plan of allowing his guilt to swallow him whole.

Bucky was already changing out of his suit before he realized it; throwing on an old SHEILD crewneck from Steve and a pair of sweatpants he stole from the training center. The cold didn’t bother him much, but you’d been so sweet all wrapped up in your sweats, it made Bucky want to try for something normal.

You made Bucky want to be normal.

It was how he found himself standing at the edge of the compound, looking out into the dark field to the soft flicker of a fire. You sat curled up on a blanket, smiling and proud of your work. You didn’t notice him just yet and Bucky decided he liked the way you smiled to yourself when you thought no one was watching.

He started to make his way over to you and you nearly jumped as he approached, hand clutching at your chest to still your heart and you started to laugh.

“Bucky! You scared me!” you grinned, making room for him on the blanket and patting the surface next to you for him to sit down. He did so, amazed that the feel of your thigh against his didn’t scare him away. If anything, it made him want more.  

“You’re surprised I came?” he asked softly, a semblance of a smile on his lips.

“Of course, I’m surprised, Bucky! You never come to anything I ask you to,” you replied and Bucky frowned, a twinge of guilt in his chest, but your smile was too bright for it to stay long as you continued, “but I’m really glad you did. Now I can give you partial blame for stealing Sam’s chocolate.”

A laugh escaped him before he could suppress it. It felt odd in his chest, but warm, welcoming maybe. “I see your true motives at work here.”

You shrugged, sending him that teasing grin that made his stomach twist, and you plopped a marshmallow on a metal stick and handed it over to him before doing another for yourself.

“You know how to make s’mores, right?” you asked, almost nervously, as Bucky eyes the marshmallow.

“Of course, doll, I wasn’t born in the stone age,” Bucky teased, surprised by his own voice.

“Just before sliced bread,” you shot back, grinning wildly and nudging at his shoulder. You didn’t seem to be affected at all that it was metal you touched, hard and cold beneath the surface of his sweatshirt. Bucky couldn’t help but smile.

***

Ten minutes later and Bucky had already consumed two whole s’mores before you got the perfect toast on a single marshmallow. You berated him for not caring about the ‘art’ of the s’more and that he under toasted or set them ablaze just to eat it sooner. He agreed and you shoved him playfully in the side.

“So where is everyone?” he asked, wiping the marshmallow from his lips, as you lit your third marshmallow on fire with an aggravated huff.

You stuck a new marshmallow on the end of your skewer and held it with careful precision over the flame. It was adorable, the way you squinted at the flames, determination over your features. After a moment, as you felt content with the ratio of flame to heat, you shrugged, answering his question, “right here”

Bucky raised an eyebrow. “Were you just going to do this by yourself if you didn’t see me in the living room?”

“Sometimes it’s nice to just get away for a while, have some place to think and just be,” you replied softly. “Besides, I like looking at the stars. It makes me feel small.”

If Bucky thought he had a decent read on you before, he was certainly at a loss now. “You like feeling small in the universe?”

“It reminds me that there are things out there that are bigger than myself,” you said, turning the marshmallow over the flame, a pleased smile on your face as the underside was toasted to the color you were looking for. “It reminds me that the little things I used spend days agonizing over only have power if I give it to them.”

The confusion must have read on Bucky’s face because you smiled at him, readjusting in your seat.

“We’re like these little blips,” you explained, pulling your marshmallow away from the flames, “and we only have this impossibly small amount of time here with so much before us and an eternity after we’re gone, and... I don’t know... I guess that makes me remember how important every moment is. I don’t want to spend my time here suffering, you know? I want to enjoy it. I want to do good with it and make it matter.”

Bucky nodded, looking up at the stars as you started to make your first s’more. The patterns of constellations were so clear outside of the city, imperfect patterns and arrays of tiny shiny specs in the sky, stretching out into the vast universe. Each one was a sun to its own solar system, each one surrounded by planets with potential life, and there were billions more than he could take in with his own eyes from this very small corner of a single world.

He knew what you meant about feeling small, though, he wasn’t quite sure how to get to the part about being thankful for his time here. If anything, if felt like his mark has been nothing but pain and violence and destruction. He should be sentenced to spend his time here agonizing over it, shouldn’t he?

“What are you thinking about?” you asked, noticing the contemplation on his face as you finally took a bite of your s’more and marshmallow oozed out the side. You groaned, eyes rolling back before you could catch yourself, and you giggled with full cheeks.

Bucky smiled at that. He might have forgotten entirely if he could just watch you do that again. “Nothing.”

“A face like that isn’t thinking about just nothing,” you retorted teasingly, shoving the rest of the sandwich into your mouth with a satisfied grin.

You had a bit of chocolate on the corner of your lips and Bucky’s hand reached out to brush it away without thinking. Your cheeks were warm from the fire, lips sticky from the marshmallows and the chocolate brushed off easily onto his thumb. He let his hand fall away and wiped it on the grass. He didn’t notice the way you watched him with a kind of awe that would have set his heart on fire.

“Come here,” you urged, pushing your legs out to lie flat on the blanket and gesturing to your lap. Bucky raised an eyebrow, confused, and you tugged on his shoulders, motioning for him to lay down.

Bucky didn’t quite know what to do, but he knew he’d do just about anything you asked, so he laid down along the blanket with his back pressed against the earth, his head resting on the soft cushion of your thigh.

“Look at the stars. They’re never ending. They go on for infinity and carry worlds of possibility. They’re limitless. Let them take some of your pain, Bucky,” you told him gently, leaning back to rest one hand against the grass as another gently wove into his scalp. 

He flinched at first, surprised by the sudden action, but found himself soon melting against the movements as it sent waves of shivers through his head and down his spine.

He did as you instructed, trying to find purpose in the stars, focusing on the gentle lull of your fingers tracing patterns in his hair. He only saw what he could; something beautiful, something vast and endless, but nothing that could take any the guilt he carried.

He wasn’t sure he’d ever find a way to let go of that. It was engrained in him. It was a part of him. The things he did were unforgivable, irredeemable, and it was all consuming. It weighed on him unlike anything else and pushed him so far beneath the surface, his lungs were filled with dirt.

After a while, Bucky’s eyes started to drift, losing focus on the stars you so endearingly found hope in, letting himself fall into the soft embrace of your nails as they wove patterns on his scalp, drawing a calm about him he hadn’t known in years.

“I heard about the mission,” you said quietly, suddenly, like you’d been thinking about it for a while, and Bucky stiffened instantly under your touch, his heart skipping several beats, but your fingers continued to rake gently against his scalp, drawing him back to a sense of calm. “It’s not your fault, you know. They never should have sent you to a Hydra facility on your first mission in the field.”

There was a hint of anger in your voice, like you’d had this conversation before, like maybe you’d argued with someone about it, tried to stop it from happening and no one had listened. Bucky’s stomach started to hurt, thinking that maybe even you, who thought so highly of him, didn’t think he was good enough to be an Avenger.

“There were too many reminders there, you know?” you said, continuing as you looked up at the stars. “I kept thinking they should have sent you to Bratislava with me; ease you into the field by breaking up trafficking rings first and maybe stop a few drug shipments, not by sending you right back to the people who hurt you for so long. I don’t know what they were thinking.”

That surprised him. You wanted to work with him? He knew you didn’t usually take part in Hydra missions after your father had been exposed as one of the double agents in the attack on D.C. There were enough agents with vendettas against Hydra to take on the cause and you were plenty happy to take down bad guys without worldwide organizational skills.

“We’d make a good team, don’t you think?”

Bucky realized then that he wasn’t watching the stars anymore, he was watching you. The flicker of the fire illuminated your skin in soft waves of reds and yellows, warm flush in your cheeks. You glanced down at him, fingers still gently carding through his hair, and he wondered if he’d ever seen a more beautiful smile in his life.

“Yeah, think so,” he replied. He never wanted to raid a Hydra base again if he could spend more time with you like this.

You smiled at him, proud, before you looked back up at the stars. “You’re more than just a culmination of your actions, Bucky. I know you feel like the things you did under Hydra’s control have turned the universe against you and that you’ll never be able to make up for all of it, but you don’t have to save people from burning buildings and throw yourself straight into your trauma to prove you’re good, Buck.”

Bucky sat up slowly, letting your hand fall away from his hair and trace down the side his left arm until it rested delicately on his hand; the metal warm to the touch as it absorbed the heat of the flame. You turned to him, smiling sweetly, though your eyes were sad.

“The small moments count, too,” you said.

“I thought you said the universe took away the small things, that they didn’t matter?” he replied, confused, but you shook your head.

“Only the bad things, Buck; the things that cause you pain.”

“That’s convenient,” he teased, enjoying the way your nose scrunched up in feigned frustration.

“You forget that small moments of good can change someone’s entire day. They can make a world of difference,” you countered, your free hand reaching up to cup the side of his face. He shivered under your touch though he didn’t dare pull away. “The first day I saw you smile is a pretty good example of that, actually.”

Bucky narrowed his eyes at that, surprised.

“I had just gotten into a fight with Fury over the mission he was trying to send me on, one I didn’t believe was the right call, and I was about to go hit a punching bag for hours until my knuckles bled,” you explained, thumb brushing gently along his cheekbone, “but then I saw you sitting in the kitchen with Steve. I don’t even know what you were talking about but Sam had dropped the entirety of his lunch plate on the floor and you just... you smiled. It was wide enough to see the dimples in your cheeks and the wrinkles by your eyes, and I forgot why I was so angry to begin with.”

Bucky didn’t know what to say. He shook his head. “I never knew you were there...”

“I could list dozens of other moments like that Bucky,” you said softly, “and they all add up. Like the days you’d leave out an extra cup of coffee for me on Wednesdays because you figured out I only drink it before my mandatory board meetings and how you always pick up the empty dishes of those sitting around you when you go to clean your own or when you offer to help new recruits struggling with their hand-to-hand in the training gym. Please don’t disregard those moments. They matter. If anything, they matter more because they’re small. These tiny little moments that make the smallest differences and create a chain effect of something... good.”

How long have you been picking up on things like that? 

Did you also know that it was him that always made sure your stockpile of microwave popcorn was full or that he took Natasha’s shift training rookies once a week so the two of you could spend more time together, because he hated seeing you so disappointed each time your schedules clashed. Did you know that his heart eased a little when you walked in the room and the soft hum of your voice made his stomach twist in knots?

“Do you think I’m crazy?” you asked quietly, studying him for a reaction as he got lost in his own thoughts.

“No! No, of course not,” Bucky said, shaking his head, and reaching up for your wrist as you stared to pull your hand away from his face nervously. “I never considered that before, is all. I think I’ll have a lot of small moments to go before I can make up for all I’ve done.”

He said it in a teasing way, but you frowned.

“Not to me,” you said quietly, almost in a whisper. “You’re overflowing with good, Bucky, and I swear, I’m reminded of that every time I get to see you smile.”

Bucky paused, his heart aching and swelling with every word you say. He pulled your hand into his lap, holding it gently. “So, not very often then?”

You grinned, letting out a laugh, and it brought a smile to his face. “No, not very often, but it’s nice to see it now.”

“Might have to start smiling more, I guess,” he replied, a hitch in his breath as you leaned into his chest, arms wrapping around his waist. You started to shove him down to the grass and he let out a heart-filled laugh, letting you lay down beside him along the blanket, head resting on his shoulder, arm draped over his chest.

“Can we just stay here a little longer?” you asked, glancing up at him and he swore he’d never say no to you again. He’d let you take him anywhere you wanted; to movie nights, to extravagant galas, to the ends of the Earth.

“As long as you want, doll,” he sighed, reveling in the warmth of the fire and the press of your body against his.

He’d stare at the stars for an eternity with you.

*insert that meme of Jenny Slate screaming about space*

Thank you so much for reading! ❤️ If you enjoyed this fic, please consider supporting me at my ko-fi account ✨

#bucky barnes #bucky x reader #bucky barnes x reader #bucky x you #marvel #bucky barnes x female reader #ldatfwc

[all1e23]

Hay Fever [One-Shot]

Summary: Hay fever is making everyone a bit crazy. 

Warnings:  Sweetness. That’s all. 

A/N:   This takes place Ocotober 2021. 3 months after the epilogue. No Cassie and Leo. They are still being baked. ;-)  this is for @littledarlinhavefaithinme​ Fall Challenge. My Prompt is “Hold on, you have hay in your hair.” It’s in bold. Write me a book report, sing me a song, or come scream at me if you like it. If you have not read the series Astrophile, THERE WLL BE MAJOR SPOILERS.  

Catch up on the series here!

***My fics are not to be saved or posted on any other sites without my written permission. Reblogs are my jam, though! Thanks!*

This has been the longest day Bucky has had in years. He can’t remember the last time he felt this tired and worn down. It doesn’t help that his girls are still at the peak of their sugar rush after eating two bags of caramel corn and candy corn. He wishes he could be as excited as they are-- No, wait, he doesn’t. No one wants to be that excited about anything.

Their excitement knows no bounds, and it only doubles when they are bouncing around together. Okay, yeah, he finds it cute. Exhausting and cute.

In all fairness to the sugar rush duo, the pumpkin patch had been his idea. Bucky brought it up to his girls three or four weeks ago, mentioning it might be fun to get everyone together and visit a pumpkin patch.  A big outing with the whole family. Steve, Sam and Ollie, Nat and Clint, and Barneses -- seeing as it’s Oliver’s first Halloween with the family they should make a big deal and celebrate!

Bucky is definitely regretting his overeager spooky spirit.  The last four hours were spent on candy apples, pumpkin scones and apple cider, face painting, hayrides, and a corn maze. They still have a small petting zoo Y/n and Ori want to visit before they leave, but first, they have to pick out the ‘most perfect pumpkin ever’ -- because his girl wants them for the front stoop.

Y/n wanders through the rows of pumpkins and sighs heavily. Bucky can see it on her face; she can’t decide on just one. She wants all of them, and he knows this is important to her this year. It’s their first Halloween since she moved in with Bucky and Ori and with their babies on the way he understands how important it is for this holiday season to be perfect for her.

That perfection is not limited to the pumpkins she is going to decorate their home with.

She rests a hand on her swollen stomach and walks over to Bucky, catching his attention with a sweet kiss to the tip of his cold nose.

“Buck, which ones are your favorite? I can’t decide.”

Bucky reaches up and attempts to rub the sleep out of his eyes; they hurt. He’s just come off a forty-eight-hour shift, and they were busy. They were so busy, in fact, he barely got any sleep, but a promise is a promise. As much as he wants to be excited, he also really wants to go home and sleep, and that's why he stayed quiet. Bucky knows if he had told Y/n when he got home this morning, she would have insisted he stay home to rest. She would have rescheduled the entire thing or had Steve pick her and Ori up because nearly two years in and they are both still disgustingly in love.

He couldn’t have done that to her. He didn’t want to disappoint her, and she would have been disappointed. She’s been so excited, and it takes a bit of magic to get everyone off at the same time, so he slapped on a smile, downed a pot of coffee, and here he is, in the middle of some farm an hour away from home staring at hundreds of pumpkins.  He can push through this last bit for his girls and make it a good day for them.

“Beck, baby, just pick any of them. I don’t care. I’m sure whatever you pick will be perfect. Let’s get it and get them home, okay?” His tone isn’t harsh or brash. He would never talk down to her or speak to her in a way that would disrespect her – even if he is upset with her,

Regardless of his gentle temper, the words he chose out of exhaustion have stung. Y/n’s eyes suddenly fill with tears, her bottom lip trembles, and Bucky’s heart breaks in two.

Shit, he messed up.

“Beck-- Y/n…” 

He reaches out to take her hand, but she yanks it back and crosses her arms over her chest, letting them rest on her belly. That's never happened before, and he hates it. She turns her head towards where Ori and her uncles are picking out pumpkins with Oliver, leaving her back facing Bucky.

“It’s fine. Let’s get any of them.” She whispers, failing to hide the quake in her voice. The pregnancy has made her a little more sensitive than usual, and Bucky should have been more careful. He knows that. “If you d-don’t care… I don’t care either. We can have any old pumpkin because it doesn’t matter.”

It does matter, she does care, and Bucky is an idiot.

Bucky's gaze lands on the back of her head and can’t help the soft chuckle that slips out. The laughter makes Y/n spin around to face him, her features darkening in anger. There is a piece of hay sticking out of her hair from their hayride, giving her bunny ears he hadn't noticed till she turned around. He steps forward and closes the gap between them; she leans into his arms because she can’t help it. Her feet hurt; she’s cold and tired, and Bucky’s warm, and he smells good, like home. Bucky sighs and presses a kiss to the top of her head and whispers, “Hold on, you have hay in your hair.”

Y/n pulls back with a frown that’s threating to break into a smile; Bucky pulls it out of her hair, showing it to her before he tosses it to the ground. This is probably the worst fight they have ever had, and Bucky knows it's mostly due to hormones, but he's still ready with an apology because he really does care, and most of all, he wants her happy. 

“I’m sorry. I do care about our pumpkins. I’m just exhausted, baby. I didn’t get a lot of sleep. It was a busy night. It came out a lot harsher than I meant it, but it's not a lie. Whatever you pick will be perfect."

“Buck…” She sighs, guilt filling her words. “You should have said something. We didn’t have to come--”

Bucky shuts her up with a chaste kiss and shakes his head when they break apart. “That right there, that is why I didn’t say anything. You would have stayed home or at the very least, made me miss all this, and I shouldn’t miss any of this. I’ll sleep when we get home.”

“Okay, let’s grab a pumpkin and go.”

She attempts to wiggle out of his arms, but he holds her firmly in place and breathes in her ear. “How about this? What if we pick out all the weird shaped, imperfect pumpkins that no one is going to buy so they have a home, like I know you want to, we order pizza on the drive back, and we all hit the hay early?”

She grins and presses a kiss to his cheek, “I could be talked into it if snuggles are involved.”

“Try and stop me snuggling you, baby.”

#ldatfwc #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky barnes x reader #firefighter!bucky #bucky x you #bucky x reader #james buchanan barnes #Bucky Barnes #no longer single dad AU #alternate universe #astrophile files

[louhooo]

The Patient

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: It’s cold and flu season, y’all 

Word Count: 2774

Warnings: Swearing, FLUFF, nurse Bucky

Prompt: “Is that my shirt?” // “It’s the only one that will warm my cold soul.”

A/N: This is part of the “Rainy Day” universe. This is for @littledarlinhavefaithinme All Things Fall Writing Challenge!!! I’ve changed my idea for this about twenty times lol and this may or may not be based on the fact that I turn into such a baby when I have a cold. I’m v dramatic and a patient Bucky to nurse me back to health (but mainly put up with my complaining) is exactly what I would want/need.

It started out as a sniffle.

Tony was in the middle of explaining all of the modifications he’d added to the quinjet– S.H.I.E.L.D doesn’t know anything yet– and Bucky had lost interest after a few minutes of Tony’s impassioned rambling. Especially once he heard you from across the room.

You sat next to Natasha, your hands tucked into the pockets on your Avenger’s issued sweatshirt, and your legs kicked up onto the empty chair on your other side. Tony was describing a new feature for the weapons on the jet, but you were more focused on the grey hair poking through on his goatee. You leaned over to Nat.

“Do you think he colors his beard?” You whispered. She leaned back.

“I know he does. I caught Pepper buying a box of black “Just For Men” as CVS one time. She was very quick at hiding the box from me.” You chuckled and settled back into your seat.

“Something you wanna share with the class, ladies?” Tony raised a brow, waiting impatiently for you and Nat to stop talking during his demonstration. You smiled–too innocently for Tony’s standards– and shook your head.

“Nope. You’re doin’ a great job, boss.” Tony sighed and rolled his eyes and picked up where he left off before he was so rudely interrupted. You felt eyes on you and almost immediately found Bucky’s from across the room. You grinned at him, his own grin mirroring yours.

You and Bucky had gone to the carnival in the town near the compound on Halloween night, but as soon as you both sat down to share a caramel apple that’d you’d been craving for weeks, you were called out on a short recon to Canada for the last few days with Nat, and only just got back an hour ago, just as Tony’s spiel presentation started. 

You missed your boyfriend. And the caramel you never got to enjoy.

As soon as Tony finished, you walked over to the other side of the room and tugged Bucky up. 

“Nice to see ya, too, Y/N!” Sam bellowed as you headed down the hall. Bucky chuckled and wrapped his fingers with yours as you dragged him out of the room.

“What’s the rush, sugar? You didn’t even give Sam a comeback.” You grinned and pulled him into the elevator with you, hitting the button to your floor. You buried your face into his chest as soon as the doors shut, inhaling his musk.

“I missed you,” you spoke, your voice muffled by his shirt. Bucky grinned and let your hand go so that he could hold you closer.

“I missed you, too.” The Bucky that woke up in Wakanda never pictured having anyone this important in his life, not like this anyways. He always had Steve, and even though Sam annoyed Bucky in ways he never imagined, he’d grown to like him (even if it took him a while). But being… open and vulnerable with a girl? He had already signed that part of his life off. 

Luckily for him, you were too stubborn and never stopped convincing him that he deserved that.

Deserved love.

Deserved you.

You sniffled again and stared at your blue-eyed man with a love drunk grin, but instead of your usual forehead kiss, his brows pinched together as his eyes roamed your face.

“You feelin’ okay?” You nodded slowly.

“Yeah…? Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, you keep sniffling. And your heart is beating differently; faster.”

“And I’m also staring at a super hot guy right now….” Bucky’s concern dropped for the moment so he could give you a deadpanned stare. You giggled and stepped back as the elevator dinged for your floor. You took his hand again and walked towards your apartment.

“I’m serious, Y/N.”

“I am, too, Buck. I mean, have you ever seen yourself? Somebody call the fire department, ‘cause you’re smokin’!” You laughed at your joke as F.R.I.D.A.Y. scanned your thumb to open the door. You stepped in and kicked off your shoes, leaving Bucky so you could search for something to eat. He shut the door and turned on your living room light as he followed you into the kitchen. “Do you have food at your place? Nothin’ looks good in my fridge. Oh! Hey! Did you keep that caramel apple?!”

“No, I think Clint ate it.” Your shoulders dropped. “I think you caught somethin’ when you were gone. You need to go to Med Bay and get cleared.” You rolled your eyes and shut the fridge with your hip.

“Bucky, don’t you think you’re being a bit dramatic? Nat and I didn’t even do that much. It was just recon. And I’m literally just there for tech; I don’t even getta do anything that exciting.”

He sighed. He would discuss your importance for the team later. “Doesn’t mean you couldn’t have come into contact with somethin’! Could be some airborne pathogen! What if it’s poisonous?” You sighed and gave your overly anxious boyfriend a tender grin.

“Baby… I promise you, I feel fine. There’s nothing to worry about.”

By that night, you had lost the ability to breathe through your nose. When you woke up the next morning, your head was throbbing and you had a puddle of drool on your pillow from your mouth being open all night.

Bucky politely waited an hour before casually mentioning that he did tell you to get checked out. You glared at him and threw an empty box of tissues at his head. You didn’t miss.

“Here’s some soup.” You were propped up in bed, bundled under blankets with twenty used tissues scattered on top. Bucky set the tray on your lap and waited until you were fully settled before letting it sit on your lap completely. He glanced at you and brushed the hair out of your face. “How’re ya feelin’? Has the medicine kicked in yet?”

“No,” you grumbled, glaring up at Bucky. He’d take your glare seriously if he didn’t find it so cute. 

“Maybe you should take a lil’ more.”

“If you make me drink any more of that crap, I’ll scream.” 

“That ‘crap’ is what’s going to make you feel better.”

“Bull.” He huffed a laugh as he sat on the bed, throwing all the tissues into the garbage can. “You’re mocking me.” He raised a brow at you. “You can’t get sick, so you’re just rubbin’ it my face that you can touch my germs and be fine!” He chuckled and set the now full trash down on the floor beside the bed.

“Eat your soup. I’ll go get you some more water.” You grumbled and slowly took a spoonful of the hot broth and brought it to your lips. Bucky watched you take another bite before grabbing your empty water bottle and going to the kitchen. He unscrewed the lid and held it under the fridge dispenser until it filled with cold water. He put the lid back on, and grabbed an extra package of tissues, just in case. When he got back to the bedroom, you looked up at him with a woeful gaze.

“Can you sit with me? I don’t wanna be alone.” Bucky smirked warmly and set your bottle down on the nightstand and squeezed onto the bed beside you so he was propped against the pillows. You sat up and adjusted the pillows more, and pulled on the arm of his sweatshirt until he scooted closer to you.

He laid his arm behind you and chuckled. “What else do you want me to do, baby?” You sighed and leaned your head back so you were leaning against his chest.

“Don’t be mad at me, but I don’t wanna eat right now.”

“You needta eat, sweetheart.”

“I know…” you whined, “but I’m not hungry right now. I’m still full from lunch.” You groaned and reached for a tissue from the box in Bucky’s hand and held it up under your nose. “I’m dying. I never wanna go to a Halloween festival ever again.” Bucky breathed through his nose and moved the tray of food from your lap, to the end table to avoid hot liquid being spilled all over you and the bed.

“I don’t think you mean that, and I don’t think you’re dying–”

“I am. And, I do.” Stubborn. And dramatic. Just how Bucky liked you. You balled up the tissue and leaned over him to drop it into the garbage. You missed and groaned again. “I’ll pick it up later.” You tucked yourself back into his side until you were comfortable.

“Only if you’re not dead first, right?” You narrowed your eyes up at him, a cheeky grin on his face.

“You’re not cute.” A loud laugh came out of Bucky that normally would have made you happy, if your head wasn’t throbbing.

“Didn’t realize I got so ugly in just a day….” Your eyes stayed narrowed and Bucky chuckled. “C’mon. I’ll play with your hair if you lay down.” You hummed, assessing him and his proposition.

“… okay. I’ll allow it.” Bucky rolled his eyes good naturedly and you settled back into his side, your arm hooking over his abdomen. His metal digits scratched your scalp how you liked it, and he felt your breathing start to shift, growing slower and slower as you drifted to sleep.

Well… almost to sleep.

You sat up and moved your head as a harsh cough raked you. Bucky grimaced and sat up, too, his urge to protect gnawing at him to do something to make you feel better. You took a few gulps of water and your coughing subsided. You sighed and kicked your feet out from under the covers and stumbled out of bed.

“Where’re you–”

“I gotta pee.” You shuffled into the bathroom and shut the door. You glanced in the mirror and cringed. Your nose was red and crusty, your lips were chapped, and you looked like you could use a hot shower after a day of being in sick and in bed. You opened the door again, and Bucky was standing right there and jumped. “Jesus! What are you doing?”

“I was gonna help you back to bed.” You grinned and shifted your weight to lean against the door frame.

“I’m okay, Buck. I am gonna shower, though, so you can relax.”

“Do you need help?” you raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Bucky shook his head. “Not like that. You could take a bath, and I’ll help you.”

“I’m okay, babe. I can handle a shower.” Now, Bucky looked at you disbelievingly.

“You sure?” You nodded and he studied you before sighing, and accepting your reassurance. You shut the door and Bucky stayed there until he heard the shower door open and the water start. He glanced around the room and decided he could clean up. He took the cold soup and tray and set them in the kitchen, transferring the soup into a storage container for later when you were “hangry”, as you called it. 

He emptied the garbage from the bedroom into the bigger kitchen garbage can, tying it up and taking it out to the special incinerator Stark put in living quarters of the compound. Steve was walking down the hallway when Bucky stepped out.

“Hey, Buck. How’s Y/N doin’?” Steve followed Bucky as they walked down the hall.

“She’s takin’ a shower, now, so I think she’s feeling a little bit better. That, or the cold medicine is kicking in finally.” Bucky would wait until you were back to your normal self before teasing you about how theatrical you were being with anyone. Steve chuckled.

“That’s good. Nat and I went over their recon today. You, me, and Nat are headin’ to Canada in a few days. She gonna be okay by then?” Bucky slowly opened the door to the incinerator and lowered the garbage into it. He knew you’d be okay by then, and you’d tell him to “go and save the world from the bad guys,” but the idea of leaving made him anxious. Steve could sense the hesitation.

“I can see if Sam can go, too, if you don’t think she’ll be okay by then?”

“It’s just…” Bucky scratched the back of his neck trying to come up with a valid excuse. He’d already used all of his best ones. Steve gave Bucky an understanding grin. Since Bucky had bought that ring, he hated any time either he or Y/N had to leave for a mission. It wasn’t a coincidence that Bucky’s missions had been cut lately.

“I get it, Buck. I’ll ask Sam.” Bucky grinned at his oldest friend and Steve smacked his shoulder. “But, can you ask, already? I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna be able to keep it a secret. I’m pretty sure Nat already figured it out.” Bucky rolled his eyes and sighed.

“It’s kinda concerning how bad at lying you are, Steve. You threaten our national security almost daily.”

“Shut up, or I’ll ‘slip up’ in front of your girl.” Bucky rolled his eyes again and started to walk back to your apartment.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll see ya later, Stevie.” Bucky patted his friend’s shoulder and Steve murmured back his own goodbye.

Bucky got back into the apartment and noticed the shower wasn’t running anymore. He walked back to your bedroom and found you sitting in bed, your hair still wet, tucked under the covers, and in a familiar long sleeved flannel he hadn’t seen for a while now. You were scrolling through your phone, enjoying the short lived moment of being able to breathe through your nose.

“Is that my shirt?” You glanced up at Bucky and back down at what you were wearing.

“I’m still dying, and it’s the only one that will warm my cold soul.” Bucky raised a brow.

“I don’t think that’s how it works, doll.”

“Shh, I’m sick and I think the cold medicine kicked in in the shower, so I’m also slightly high.” Bucky chuckled and moved to get in bed beside you. Your phone wasn’t interesting anymore and you curled into his side. “Where’d you go?”

“Took the garbage out, and Steve was in the hall.”

“I just checked my email and Nat said they went through the footage this morning. She said you two and Steve were gonna go to Canada in a few days.” 

“Change of plans. Steve said Sam was goin’ instead.” You looked up at him, a crease drawn between your eyebrows.

“Oh…. Why, did something happen?” Bucky grinned and smoothed out your concern with his thumb.

“Nothin’ happened. They just needed Sam, instead. ‘Sides, if I left, who’d be able to take care of you and your cold soul?” You grinned and rolled your eyes. You laid your head back down, leaving a wet spot on Bucky’s chest from your hair, but he didn’t care.

“You’re the only one I wanna annoy when I’m sick.” He smirked and rubbed his hand up and down your bicep.

“You don’t annoy me, doll.” You sniffled.

“You’re sweet for lyin’ to me, Buck.” You rubbed your hand over his stomach, feeling the muscles contract under your touch.

“I’m not lyin’. You’d be able to tell if I was annoyed with you.” You hummed.

“I guess that’s true. You always give Sam a death glare whenever he starts singing to you.”

“Well, he’s not good.” You giggled a raspy laugh.

“You just don’t like what he sings.”

“It’s not appropriate. And, I know you’re gonna call me ‘old’, but music from my day wasn’t so vulgar. It was real music.” You grinned and rolled your eyes.

“You like it when I play it, though…?” Bucky was quiet for a long time. When you looked back up at him, you could tell he was trying to come up with a retort. “Uh-huh. That’s what I thought.” Bucky glared playfully and held your head back down as you giggled and settled back on his chest.

“Shouldn’t you be asleep?” You laughed as Bucky bit back his grin. He’d planned on asking you on Halloween while you were at the carnival, but then you got called on the mission, and his plans were foiled. He made sure to complain to Steve about stealing you away the whole time you were gone. He knew he could go to his apartment and take the ring out of his combat boots and ask you right now, snotty nose and all. 

But, this moment was good how it was.

The ring could wait for another time when Bucky wasn’t cuddled up with his girl.

#Bucky Barnes x Reader #Bucky Barnes x You #Bucky Barnes x Y/N #Bucky x Reader #Bucky x Y/N #Bucky x You #little darlin's all thing fall writing challenge #ldatfwc

[jessiejunebug]

Hay Ride with Loki

Summary: Reader wants to go to a fall festival, but Loki is the only one home and she doesn’t want to go alone. Loki goes with her and they end up on a spooky hay ride. 

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Word Count: 2.9k

Warnings: none, making out? lots of fluff

A/N: I have no idea why this took me so long but this was part of a writing challenge for @sourpatchkidsandacokecan​. My prompt was “That hay ride was a lot scarier than I thought it would be,” and I had so much fun writing it. I hope you all enjoy! 

Y/N was desperate to do something. Anything. While everyone else was out on a mission, Y/N was slowly going insane all alone in the Tower. Okay, not exactly alone. Loki wasn’t needed for this mission either.

She wondered if the others deliberately left him here alone with her. Tony and Nat knew about her crush on the Trickster. She thought she did a good job at hiding it, but well, Nat was an assassin, as well as her friend. It wasn’t that hard to get the confession out of her. Tony just happened to be walking by, when Y/N spouted out confession that was supposed to be for Nat’s ears only. Y/N and Nat both made him swear not to tell anyone else, especially Loki. Tony just smirked and walked away, mumbling quietly under his breath. As of yet, it did not seem like Tony blabbered to anyone else on the team, and for that, Y/N was grateful.

But once this mission came up, Tony was the first to suggest that Y/N and Loki stay behind, claiming that they were not needed. Loki was all too comfortable with the fact that he didn’t need to spend more time with the Avengers than necessary, but Y/N noticed the way Tony winked at her before they all boarded the Quinjet.

The team had been gone for most of the day already, and they said they would not be back until sometime tomorrow. The morning had slowly creeped by, leaving Y/N bored out of her mind with nothing to do. She tried reading for a while, but knowing that she was alone in the Tower with Loki did not ease her mind.

Loki had retreated back into his room, but Y/N was so bored, she dropped her book onto the table beside the couch and made her way to his room. Before she could lose her nerve, she knocked on the door, her heart pounding with nerves. She rolled back onto the balls of her feet, trying to seem composed when the door suddenly opened and a pair of blue eyes was staring down at her.

“Can I help you?” Loki questioned with a quirked brow.

“Hey! Yea, um… You see…” Y/N stuttered out before clearing her throat and looking him in the eye. “I’m bored and was thinking about going out and doing something and was wondering if you wanted to come with me?”

From Y/N’s side, it seemed like Loki didn’t mind her as much as he minded the other Avengers. He tried not to stay around them longer than necessary, but he was always polite and nice to Y/N. She hoped that meant that he was at least a little comfortable around her.

After her question, Loki stared down at Y/N for a moment, contemplating her proposal, before responding, “What did you have in mind?”

Y/N was surprised that he agreed so easily. “Well, I heard about a Halloween thing going on in Central Park this evening. There’s going to be pumpkins and apple cider and hay rides!” Y/N exclaimed excitedly, slightly bouncing up and down at the prospect of doing some fall activities before it got too unbearably cold.

Loki’s brows furrowed together in confusion. “Is that the Midgardian holiday Thor and the spider kid were telling me about? Where humans dress up and walk to stranger’s doors asking for candy?” he asked with a slight tilt of his head.

Y/N chuckled, “Yea, that’s the one. But there’s a little more to it than that. Anyway, this is just a little festival thing. People can go and eat some food and get some apple cider and go on a hay ride. They’re activities that you can basically only do in the fall, right around Halloween. I always go because it’s still warm enough to go outside and do things and I just love the way the trees look in the fall, and I like going with someone, but everyone is gone right now so…” Y/N rambled on before she realized how long she had been talking and quickly shut her mouth, glancing at Loki’s expression.

A small smile graced his thin lips and his eyes seemed to have a gleam to them that wasn’t normally there. He then nodded and waved his hand, making a long coat appear over his shoulders. “Then, let’s go.”

Y/N gaped at him. “Wait, really? You’ll come with me?”

Loki chuckled. “Well, you did ask me. And you said you do not like attending these events by yourself. Therefore, I’ll go with you,” he responded easily.

A large smile spread across her lips and she bounced up and down excitedly. “Yay! Thank you so much!” she squealed and turned to race to her room to get a jacket and a hat, just in case it got too cold.

After grabbing her things, she met Loki by the door and they headed out into the street together. They walked silently, but it was a comfortable silence.

After walking the few blocks to Central Park, Y/N’s features instantly brightened with excitement. Loki just watched her with a small smile.

Y/N didn’t know what to do first. There was so much there, that she had no idea where to even begin. Instead, she turned to Loki, who was looking around curiously.

“So, where do you want to start?” Y/N asked him with a smile. Loki turned to look down at her with a surprised look. “It is your first time, after all.” Y/N continued. “What do you want to experience first? Pumpkins? Warm apple cider? A hayride?”

Loki tilted his head in thought. “I am curious about this hay ride that you speak of.”

Y/N laughed before leading the way towards the station where they could board the ride. “You sit in the back of a trailer that a tractor pulls. The trailer is filled with hay bales to sit on and the tractor drives you through corn mazes and woods and things like that,” Y/N explained as she bought the tickets. As she was speaking to Loki, she failed to see the sign that notified people that there were a few jump scares on this hay ride.

Loki listened thoughtfully to her explanation and shook his head when she was done. “Midgardians are so weird. I’ll never understand it.” Y/N just laughed as the tractor pulled up and people starting climbing aboard.

Loki gracefully climbed up first and once he was on, turned around and put his hand out for Y/N. She looked at it, shocked for a moment, before reaching up and placing her hand in his own. Her belly fluttered at the contact of their hands, but she tried to push it down as Loki helped pull her up onto the trailer.

Once she was on board, Loki allowed her to pick where they sat. Y/N chose towards the back of the trailer, leaving the other families and couples to sit towards the front. Loki did not seem to mind her choice and sat down beside her on the hay bale.

When everyone was on board, tractor started up and lurched forward, causing Y/N to fall slightly into Loki’s shoulder. “Sorry! Sorry,” she mumbled out quickly and shifted away, looking out towards the trees as she felt her cheeks warm. She failed to notice Loki’s slight smile.

The tractor pulled them into a path in the woods. As it was in the evening, the sky was already getting darker, causing the shadows of the trees to look much more dramatic and the atmosphere was a little more ominous than normal. Y/N subtly shifted closer to Loki, hoping he wouldn’t notice.

As they got deeper into the woods, Y/N noticed that it was suddenly getting much foggier than it was earlier. As she glanced around, confused, she heard a shrill scream from one of the people towards the front of the ride. Her Avenger instincts kicked in and she was ready to jump up and head towards the noise, a large, fuzzy spider dropped down from somewhere above her in the trees.

This time, Y/N was the one to let out a loud squeak and she lurched closer to Loki, trying to get away from the spider and to seek his comfort. She buried her face into his shoulder and grabbed onto him for dear life. She felt his entire body tense up.

“Please get it away from me,” she whined in a tiny voice, too scared to look up.

After a silent moment, she felt Loki pull his arm from out under her and wrapped it around her body, pulling her closer into him.

“It wasn’t real, darling,” Loki said soothingly, while she could feel his thumb rubbing small circles on her shoulder. His words caused her to pause and look up.

Sure enough, the spider was a store-bought creation that had too much fake hair on it and it now looked comical. The large felt spider was dangling from the string that was connected to a branch somewhere above their heads.

Now, she felt stupid.

Y/N chuckled nervously. “Right, yea of course it’s not real. I knew that…” She felt rather than heard Loki’s small chuckle.

She then tried to pull herself out of Loki’s arms, now embarrassed with the entire situation, though she couldn’t deny how nice it felt to be in his arms. Her face a flushed mess, Y/N started to pull away from Loki, when a man in a hockey mask jumped out from behind a tree and yelled at the group, waving around a long knife.

Now that realized this was a scary hay ride, she knew the knife wasn’t real, but she still jumped and curled closer to Loki again. He didn’t complain.

Once the ride was past the guy in the mask, Y/N once again tried to extract herself from Loki’s warm embrace, but he tightened his hold on her and pulled her closer, angling his body towards her slightly, so that she could bury her face into his chest. “Perhaps you should wait until this ride is over, darling,” he murmured quietly into her hair.

Now Y/N was truly embarrassed. She started to struggle, trying to pull herself out of his arms. He must think she’s acting like a child. “No, it’s okay Loki, I’ll be okay,” she protested.

But Loki wasn’t human and his grip was something she could not break out of. He held his grip firm. “Perhaps you should wait until the ride is over, darling. I don’t want you to get scared again,” he murmured softly.

Y/N paused for a moment, mulling his words over, before realizing that this might be the only time she would be able to get this close to Loki. This might never happen again. So, with that thought in mind, she burrowed closer into Loki’s side, relishing the body contact.

For the rest of the ride, her head was tucked into Loki’s chest, his arm tightly holding her to him. Y/N closed her eyes, feeling calm and safe in his arms, his smell permeating through her senses. She didn’t know how to explain how he smelled, other than he smelled like Loki and she didn’t think she would ever have enough of it.

At a particularly large gust of wind, Y/N shivered, and she felt Loki pull her even closer, while his hand moved up and down her shoulder, trying to create some heat within her body. She was glad her face was buried in his chest, because her face was beet red from his little touches of affection.

She didn’t know how long the ride lasted, the only thing she knew was that she was content in Loki’s arms. She even blocked out the noises of surprise and fright from the passengers around her, feeling completely safe in his embrace.

Suddenly, the cart jerked to a stop and Loki leaned down to whisper, “It’s over now, Y/N. We can get off now.”

Y/N lifted her head up to look at him, but she didn’t realize how close their faces were. Their noses were almost touching. She looked into his eyes, trying to read the emotions that he normally kept so deep down and hidden. There was more expression in his blue eyes than she had even seen before. His eyes darted down to her lips for a moment, before meeting hers again. Before she could read his eyes, a loud voice called out, thanking them for coming and telling them to enjoy the rest of the festival.

The moment being broken, Y/N quickly pulled herself out of his arms and stood up, and headed towards the front of the trailer to get down.

Before she could, Loki vaulted over the side like it was nothing and met her at the steps, holding his hand out to help her down, as he did before. Y/N stared at him for a moment in shock, before smiling and ducking her head down so he wouldn’t see her blushing, and took his hand again, letting him help her down.

Once she was on solid ground again, she pulled her hand out of his and cleared her throat. “So, I’m sorry about that back there. That hay ride was a lot scarier than I thought it would be.”

Loki simply chuckled, “It’s quite alright. I didn’t mind.” He seemed surprised at his admission because he cleared his throat and looked away. “What did you want to do now?”

Y/N looked away, disappointed that the moment was over. She scanned the rest of the festival, biting her lip while contemplating what she thought Loki would enjoy.

A shuffling next to her caught her attention, but before she could turn and look over towards the sound, an arm grabbed her above her elbow and pulled, causing her to turn towards whoever grabbed her arm.

When she was pulled around, she barely had time to look into Loki’s blue eyes before his lips were on hers. Y/N froze as his cool lips softly brushed against hers, hesitant and soft.

Before she could respond, Loki pulled away and looked into her eyes, as if searching for something. Y/N’s lips were parted in surprise, and her cheeks were flushed, but she knew one thing. She definitely needed more than that.

Before Loki could find whatever he was looking for in her face, Y/N grabbed a fistful of his shirt and hauled his face back to hers, pressing her lips more firmly to his.

Loki let out a grunt of surprise, but before she knew it, his other arm came up to cradle her neck, his thumb brushing over her cheek tenderly. Y/N’s arm that was not still in Loki’s grip, reached back behind his head and weaved her fingers through his mess of hair, marveling at how soft and silky it was.

Loki then quickly pulled his lips away from hers so that their noses were still touching, and while holding her face still, he stared into her eyes questioningly, as if asking her if that was what she really wanted.

Y/N gave him a reassuring smile and a wide grin broke out across his face. She had never seen him look so happy.

With her confirmation that she wanted this, he pulled her back into him, pressing their lips together once again. Y/N smiled into the kiss and when she felt Loki’s tongue brush over her lips, she immediately granted him access, allowing him to deepen the kiss. As he delved further into her mouth, Y/N grabbed a fistful of his hair and tugged slightly, causing Loki to let out a low groan that she swallowed. It was the most amazing noise she had ever heard. The arm that was previously holding her in place by her elbow had wrapped itself around her wait and tugged her closer, so that her body was pressed up against his. Their lips moved in sync and Y/N swore that if she died right now, she would die happy.

The squeal of a child nearby made Y/N remember where they were and she reluctantly pulled her lips away from his. He tried to chase her lips with his, but she placed a hand on his chest, holding him back. “There are children around, Loki,” she said with a giggle.

“Maybe we should go somewhere more private then,” he responded, his voice huskier, than before. Y/N had to admit, he looked good with kiss-swollen lips.

Y/N smiled and nodded slightly. “We can go back to the Tower and watch a movie or something.”

Loki nodded before smirking, “I’m not sure how much of the movie we will pay attention to.”

Y/N blushed hard before chuckling. Loki intertwined his fingers with hers and started pulling her back in the direction of the Tower.

“Impatient, are we?” Y/N laughed as she tried to keep up with his long strides.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this,” he said over her shoulder, looking at her with a tender gaze.

Y/N smirked back at him. “You’re not the only one.”

At her admission, Loki started walking that much faster, practically dragging her back to the Tower.

Y/N put a movie on when they got back, but it was safe to say that they did not pay much attention to it. A heated make out session sounded much better anyway. They had to make up for lost time, after all.

#Loki Laufeyson #loki x reader #writing challenge #ldatfwc #sourpatchkidsandacokecan #loki #loki fluff

[caws5749]

Halloween Fic Challenge

“Did you seriously injure yourself carving a pumpkin?”

This is for @sourpatchkidsandacokecan writing challenge!

Tag List: @mcu-women-fic-collection @hherewegoagain @morbid-gaymer @natasha-romanoff-fics @taramitch96 @marvelbanan @lesbian-x-blackwidow @firstangeldragonranch @stillfiguringmeout @natasharomanoffsbitch-x @5aftermidnight @disneykid125 @clintashaotp @arkkarchive

If you want to be added to my tag lists for any or all of my series/fics, let me know!

A/N: I think this is longer than 500 words, but I’m so sorry I can’t insert a cut on ipad!! I hope you enjoy! :)

If you were being completely honest, you had never been more excited. It was the first year that Natasha and you weren’t going to be on a mission during Halloween. Last year, she had ended up on a last minute mission, which meant that all your Halloween plans had to be canceled. And the year before that, you had been assigned to a mission literally one hour before Halloween started.

Halloween was your favorite day of the year. You hated your birthday, and so Halloween was known around the Avengers compound as your day. And you definitely wanted your girlfriend to be there with you and do all of the typical Halloween activities with you.

Nat was really excited too. She knew how much Halloween meant to you, and she couldn’t wait to spend it with you. Natasha and you had brainstormed about how you would schedule your Halloween activities, so that you would have time to do them all.

++++++

“Morning,” you heard Natasha murmur. You blinked sleepily and stretched under the sheets.

“Good morning.”

Nat snuggled in closer and pressed several soft kisses to your face. You giggled, which made her begin to trail her kisses down your neck and collarbone. She stopped when you gasped.

“What?”

“It’s Halloween!” You shouted. You couldn’t help it as a huge smile took over your face, and your girlfriend couldn’t contain her own smile at your happiness.

“It is,” she agreed. “I woke you up so that we could get started on our Halloween activities.”

You hummed and adjusted to give Nat a proper kiss on the lips.

“Okay, so we should shower and then go make our pumpkin-themed breakfast,” you suggested. Natasha agreed and you both untangled your limbs and climbed out of bed.

++++++

After your shower you made your way into the compound kitchen, where several other Avengers were eating breakfast (and drinking copious amounts of coffee, in Tony’s case). Everyone greeted each other and began to talk about Halloween plans.

Everyone was most interested in Nat and your plans, being that you had the most extensive list of Halloween activities. While you cooked the pumpkin pancakes, Natasha told everyone about the plans for the day. They included a pumpkin bubble bath while watching a Halloween movie, pumpkin carving, a walk through the park in the cool autumn air, a Halloween-themed dinner Tony was hosting, and a Halloween party, complete with a Haunted House and Hayride to end the night.

“That is quite the list,” Clint commented once Nat had gone through everything.

“I know it’s going to be perfect,” you gushed. “Okay, pancakes are ready babe.”

++++++

“This is so nice,” you moaned. You were in the bath, leaning back against Natasha with a mug of pumpkin spice coffee in your hand with Hocus Pocus playing on the TV. She hummed in agreement and ran her fingers through your hair once again.

“I feel like royalty today,” you chuckled.

“Well, it’s your day,” Nat replied. “This is the one day where its about you. I know you don’t like your birthday, but on Halloween I can spoil you. And especially since this is the first Halloween that we’re both not working.”

“That’s true… You know I love you right?”

“I do. And I love you too.”

By the end of the movie, you were practically shivering from how cold the water had gotten. But you had insisted that you both stay in for the duration of the entire movie, which Nat didn’t mind.

“Lyubov moya, why don’t you take a warm shower? You’re shaking,” Natasha observed. You nodded and walked over to turn the shower on.

“Maybe we shouldn’t have stayed in for the whole time,” you mused. You didn’t even bother to ask how Nat wasn’t cold- she prided herself on being Russian for the sole reason of not getting cold easily, which you often rolled your eyes to.

“It was fun though. While you warm up I’m going to go get the stuff set up and cut out the top of the pumpkins, okay?”

“Sounds good, I’ll be fast,” you replied. Your girlfriend came over to brush her lips against yours on the way out the door.

++++++

After you had showered, you headed downstairs to the kitchen, where you and Nat had planned to carve pumpkins. Upon walking in, you found her near the sink, holding a bloody paper towel around her finger.

“Did you seriously injure yourself carving a pumpkin?” You questioned with a small smirk. You still made your way over to her quickly to see what damage had been done.

“Stupid carving knife,” she muttered.

“Does it need stitches?”

“I don’t think so,” Nat replied. “It just needs to stop bleeding.”

You hummed in response and grabbed some paper towels to wipe up the blood that had dripped on the floor.

“Are you sure it doesn’t need stitches? Let me see.”

Nat removed the paper towel and let you examine her finger. After studying it with, you agreed with her that it didn’t need stitches. You went to go get her a bandaid and came back a minute later.

“I got you a Halloween bandaid,” you chuckled. “Apparently someone bought them.”

You wrapped the bandaid on her finger and pressed a kiss to it once you were done. She chuckled at that and rolled her eyes lovingly.

“You’re adorable,” she murmured.

“So are you,” you replied, leaning up to press a kiss to her lips this time. When you pulled away Natasha leaned back towards you to pull you in for a deeper kiss. After a while you both pulled away, slightly out of breath.

“Shall we get back to our Halloween activities?” Nat questioned.

“We shall.”

#natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff x you #natasha romanoff x femreader #natasha romanov x reader #black widow x reader #natasha romanoff #natasha romanov #black widow #mine #avengers #fanfiction #marvel #ldatfwc

[winterromanov]

and i’ll throw my love (to the ground) - bucky x reader

pairing: bucky barnes x (female) reader

synopsis: sometimes good things happen to lonely people on halloween. (neighbors!au)

wordcount: 1k

a/n: this is for @sourpatchkidsandacokecan​‘s writing challenge! my prompt was ‘it’s snowing...in october’. this is kind of disgustingly fluffy so you know. be vigilant.

-x-

Honestly, there’s nothing you hate more than Halloween. You hate the tacky plastic ornaments that adorn every shop window, the huddles of children that block the sidewalk begging for candy, the ridiculous work parties where grown ass adults dress up as witches and drink cocktails with spooky pun names. You hate it, hate it, hate it. After spending the entirety of the day making mind-numbing phone calls to mind-numbing people all you want is to lock your door, pour an exceptionally large glass of wine and not talk to anyone ever.

Instead, as custom dictates, you must leave your apartment door on the latch and force a smile onto your exhausted face as the kids in your building screech through your letterbox for snickers bars. Snickers bars you’ve bought out of your own pay check that you can’t even fucking eat.

“You’re a Halloween Grinch,” Natasha tells you as you fumble around your bag for your keys, phone wedged between your ear and shoulder. “I bet you’re going to go and sit inside with the lights off.”

“You know, I would do that,” you reply, hastily turning the key in the lock. “But every child in this building has X ray vision. They can sense you sitting on your couch watching Friends and won’t leave until you throw Nerds at them.”

You hear a muffled laugh from down the hall. Your neighbour—the hot, quiet, dark-haired one that moved in a couple of weeks ago—is standing at his front door, arriving home as you are. When he sees you looking he nods with a slight grin, your lips smiling tightly in return, watching as he disappears into his apartment.

“You’re acting like you didn’t have a choice to be in alone tonight. Literally the hottest Halloween party that New York has to offer is happening a few blocks away from you.”

You roll your eyes, knocking your door closed with your foot. You throw your bag and keys on the couch and immediately migrate to the bottle of white in your fridge. “Natasha, I adore you, but the only thing worse than dealing with children on Halloween is dealing with adults on Halloween.”

“I have not just spent the last two hours painstakingly wrapping Steve in toilet paper for you to not come and see my handiwork.”

You smile a little at that. “Send me a photo. Enjoy yourself, yeah? I’ll be fine.”

Natasha snorts a laugh. “Yeah, I know you will. Don’t do anything too crazy, weirdo.”

“Promise I won’t.”

The line goes dead and you throw your phone onto the kitchen counter with a sigh, catching your reflection in the window that glares across the city. You look tired, like you wouldn’t even need to dress up. A ghost is staring back at you anyway.

Just as you shake away the imaginary phantoms and reach for the refrigerator door your buzzer goes, and you fight the urge to scream as trick or treat is yelled from outside.

-

Half an hour later you’ve wildly surpassed your step goal for the day, paused The One With The Giant Poking Device a grand total of sixteen times, and completely ran out of candy bars. And there’s absolutely no way you’re buying any more to appease the army of tiny tyrants that roam the streets of New York City. When the buzzer goes for what feels like the thousandth time you abandon your television, grab your still three-quarters-full bottle of wine and head for the fucking fire escape.

Desperate times require desperate measures, right? This is probably one of your lowest ways of avoiding social interaction but it’s the only way you’re going to get any peace.

Except when you heave open the heavy door and expect an empty steel balcony looking over brimming trashcans, someone else has the same idea as you.

You blink back at your neighbour, your mouth hanging open as you try and figure out something to say.

He grins mischievously, his legs dangling between the metal posts, a large coat wrapped around his shoulders. “You too, huh?”

You clamp your jaw shut, before relaxing your lips into a smile. It’s kind of a relief, actually. To know you’re not the only one who despises the exhaustion of Halloween. “Yeah. Looks that way.”

He gestures towards the bottle in your grip. “And you came prepared. Commendable. I didn’t think that far ahead.”

“Ah, a rookie error.” You cautiously sit down next to him, grimacing as the cool metal hits the back of your legs. “I’m (Y/N), by the way. I kept meaning to introduce myself but I hate talking to people.”

He laughs, mouth all crooked and warm. “Me too. James.”

You unscrew the cap off the bottle and take a generous swig, enjoying the warmth that burns through your throat like a forest fire. You pass it over to James who takes it, a little startled, drinking from it anyway. “Unhappy Halloween, James.”

“Unhappy Halloween to you too.”

Naturally, you look up at the sky that stitches your pocket of the world together, velvet blue and hazy and deep. The air is cold in your lungs and you can hear the inhale and exhale of James’ breathing, your own heartbeat in your ears. You feel a spot of wet on your cheek and you assume rain will reluctantly push you back inside, but the drops keep falling and twirling and sit on the metal that surrounds you.

James laughs, lifting his hand, catching tiny dashes of white that melt onto his palm. “It’s snowing. In October.”

So it is, so it is—so it is snowing at the end of October, on one of the loneliest nights of your year. So it is that you’re sitting on your balcony with a man you barely know, but his name is James and he has a kind face and snowflakes on his palms. 

“James,” you say, and the way his name falls out your mouth is like you’ve been saying it for years. “Would you like to go to a party?”

#ldatfwc #mcu #marvel #bucky barnes #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky x you #bucky barnes fluff #EWWW #hope u enjoy

[writeroutoftime]

the scoops troop

pairing: tony stark x reader

summary: it’s Halloween and you want to do a group costume, but Tony isn’t onboard with the idea (”let’s do a couples costume)

warnings: none 

words: 1558

a/n: this is for @sourpatchkidsandacokecan‘s challenge and I’m so excited for this story! this might be really cheesy or dumb, but i think it turned out well. also as I started to write this, I just got so into it and kinda forgot the prompt line and had to go back and add it later lol. anyway, please enjoy and have fabulous day! 

oOoOo 

“No, I am not wearing that out in public.” Tony said, barely looking up from his workbench as he fiddled with the helmet of his Iron Man suit. 

Sighs left both yours and Peter’s lips at Tony’s response. Why was Tony so against a Halloween costume when he paraded around in a metal suit almost everyday. Not to mention, you and Peter had the perfect idea for a group costume this year ever since you had binged watched the third season of Stranger Things together.

“But, Mr. Stark, the group won’t be complete without you dressing up!” Peter argued, his eyes pleading for Tony to reconsider. 

“Peter’s right, Tony.” you responded. “Come on, let’s do this couples costume! Who would Robin and Dustin be without Steve Harrington? He’s like the hero of their group.” you explained, hoping your description would appeal to Tony’s ego and he would agree. 

Now Tony was the one to sigh as he set down the helmet. “Babe, I’m just not a costume person, and you know this.” he stated. 

This was something you knew, but you had hoped this year would be different. Although Tony didn’t often admit it, you knew he had a soft spot for Peter, and he normally would do anything to make you, his wife, happy. Apparently, the line was drawn at costumes. 

“For God’s sake, Tony. You are the one hosting a costume party, yet you refuse to take part in it. Please tell me, genius, where the logic in that statement lies.” you said, your anger slowly rising. 

Instead of answering, Tony merely shrugged and picked up another part of his Iron Man suit that needed repaired. “You know what, that’s fine. I hope you enjoy your Halloween, alone!” you shouted in frustration and stormed out of his lab. 

There was an awkward silence that settled between Tony and Peter after you left as Peter looked between his mentor and the door where you had left in a hurt and angered state. “Maybe you should reconsider. I mean it’s going to be a lot of fun, plus it would make Mrs. Stark really happy.” he spoke up, hesitantly. 

“And maybe I should reconsider the new upgrades I’m adding to your suit.” Tony spat back in misdirected frustration. 

Peter’s eyes widen in fear and he started to stutter. “I-uh-I’m just gonna do, uh, homework!” he spoke rather quickly and ran straight out of the lab, not wishing to test how serious Tony was. 

Once he was completely alone, Tony tried to keep working on his suit, but after the third time he nearly stabbed his hand with the screwdriver, he threw the suit away from him with a loud, dramatic sigh. “(y/n) will get over it.” he tried to convince himself. “Though, maybe - no I’m not dressing up!” he said to himself with conviction, and turned to another project that would keep him in the lab all night. 

oOoOo 

A few days passed and things weren’t necessarily tense between you and Tony, but there was a still cloud that loomed over the both of you. It was now the day of the Halloween party, and both you and Tony had been busy rushing around all day, preparing for the scores of people who would be entering your home in a few short hours. While Tony dealt with the entertainment and drinks, you made sure there would be enough food to go around, that all decorations were in place, and talked to security about the evening. 

After everything on your end was settled, you headed back to your room to start getting into costume. Even though Tony didn't want to be apart of your group costume, you and Peter had decided to still go ahead with the costumes because it was something that was special to the both of you and you knew it would be a lot of fun. 

Once your hair and makeup were complete, you went to your closet to grab your costume, but your heart sank for a moment as you looked at the matching ‘Steve Harrington’ costume that hung next to your own. However, you pushed that feeling aside because you would still have a good night. With a quick glance at the clock, you rushed to get into costume because the party was scheduled to start in fifteen minutes, and you wanted to be downstairs before any guests showed up. 

The baggy, navy blue shorts and navy and white striped shirt with the matching navy vest looked cheesy as hell, but you smiled as you pulled on the white, knee high socks, and added your ‘Robin’ nametag and ice cream scooper to tie the whole costume together. 

Costume complete, you made your way to the main room where the party was about to be held, and said your hellos to the Avengers who you had invited to come before everyone else. A smile crossed your face as you took in all their costumes, but cocked your head to the side when you realized Tony wasn’t in the room. Normally, he would already be in the room, a drink or snack in hand. 

“Have you seen Tony?” you whispered to Wanda, who only shook her head in response with a small, sad smile on her face. 

Before you could respond, you heard a shout from behind you. “What’s up, Robin? Ready to kick some Demogorgon ass?” Peter asked with a bright smile. 

There wasn’t anything you could do but laugh in response as you took in his costume, and noted how accurate it was. An orange, graphic t-shirt, with cargo shorts, and a ‘Camp Knowhere” hat on top of his hair that he even tried to make curlier than normal. Your heart swelled with pride and love at how excited Peter was, and you pulled him into a hug and asked Natasha if she could take your picture. 

Not long after that, the party officially started and people began to pour through the doors. From there, you put on your best hostess face and started to make your rounds, saying hello and making small talk with everyone you recognized. Throughout most of the night, Peter stuck to your side and nearly everyone you spoke to complemented your costume. Some even went as far to say that the only thing you were missing was a Steve. 

Each time someone made that comment, you couldn’t help but scan the room to see if Tony had shown up yet. The party had been in full swing for over an hour, and no one had caught sight of the host for the evening. It wasn’t until the music stopped and you heard the microphone switch on, that you heard Tony’s voice for the first time that night. 

“How’s everybody doing tonight? Enjoying yourself?” he asked the crowd from offstage, to which there was a loud cheer. “Good, good.” he replied. “Now, I know I’ve been absent from this party so far, but, you know me, I had to spend hours getting ready.” he joked. “But I’m here and ready to show all of you people my costume for the evening.” 

At his words, you furrowed your brows together in confusion, and turned to Peter to see that he had a similar expression. It was then that Tony stepped out on stage and the crowed went wild while your jaw dropped in surprise. 

There stood Tony Stark with baggy, navy blue shorts, a navy blue top with a red ascot tied around the collar. He was even wearing white, knee high socks, similar to your own, and to top it all off, he had a ‘Steve’ name tag on his chest, and a white, sailor’s hat that read ‘Scoops Ahoy’ across it. 

Quickly, you pushed your way through the crowd as Tony made eye contact with you, his ever present smirk on his face. Tony returned the mic to the DJ, who turned the music back on, and made his way down the steps of the platform and went to meet you halfway. Once in armlength of him, you threw your arms around Tony and hugged him with a tight grip, and despite your best efforts, your eyes glossed up. 

“You wore the costume.” you whispered, not trusting your voice. 

He pulled away and placed a chaste kiss against your lips. “I would do anything to make you and the kid happy.” Tony admitted. “I’m sorry I was a dingus.” 

His choice of words made you laugh and you leaned in for another kiss, which only lasted a few seconds before you were interrupted by another voice. 

“Gross!” you and Tony heard before you turned to see Peter standing there with a grin on his face. “This seems pretty out of character for Robin.” he joked as he referred to the kiss you and Tony had shared. “Mr. Stark, you look great!” he said with such happiness that you knew Tony couldn’t resist. 

“Thanks, kid. You don’t look shabby yourself.” he said as Peter started to geek out about the show and all the science behind it. 

As the two of them spoke, you watched on with a content smile, and knew that this was going to go down in the books as the best Halloween yet. In fact, you made sure to have Steve take yours, Tony’s, and Peter’s picture in character, which you would later frame with ‘Scoops Troop’ written above. 

#ldatfwc #tony stark x reader #tony stark imagine #marvel imagine #marvel x reader

[justagaymess]

A Spider’s Web

Warnings: Pranks. One swear. Just fluff and pranks.

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Word Count: 1507

Summary: You love Halloween, Natasha doesn’t. You make it your mission to make halloween difficult for Nat.

A/N: I feel like I should say that in every pic I write Nat’s height is based off of ScarJo’s height (5’3) not the canon height (5’7).  This was written for @sourpatchkidsandacokecan​ All things fall writing challenge.

You love Autumn. Every bit of it. The colors of the leaves, the ever increasing cold, but most of all, you loved Halloween. It’s been your favorite holiday your entire life. As a kid, your parents could not get you out of your costume with out a giant tantrum. You were indignant when it was time to take down decorations. If you had your way the skulls, witches, bats, and ghouls would be up all year round. But, your girlfriend didn’t like halloween as much, or really at all. She isn’t a holiday person in general, probably because she didn’t get the chance to celebrate thanks to the years in the red room. You’ve toned down your decorating a little. And by toning it down, you don't decorate your bedroom or bathroom anymore, but you still kinda do. Subtly. Pumpkin spice candles, and soap, and air freshener, Apple cider surface cleaner, and so on. You tried to restrain yourself this year, you really did. But you couldn’t. You found decorative pumpkins and little knick knacks at a clearance bin in target. Natasha was going to hate you. 

“Oh well,” you think to yourself. “She isn’t here so…” you smile as you put up fake cobwebs and spiders around the corners of your apartment, and little witches and bats. It took you a while, but you finally finished decorating your shared apartment and settled on the couch with some apple cider and put on Halloweentown, because you’re nothing if not a sucker for Disney original halloween movies. Liho jumped up and joined you, laying his head on your thigh. You grabbed your favorite blanket and covered the two of you, careful to keep the blanket off of his head. The blanket smelled like Natasha despite the fact that she hadn’t been home in weeks. 

From what little information you could gather through 5 minute conversations every other day, Natasha was undercover, posing as some big name model, or something, trying to infiltrate a ring of some kind. You really don't know and if you’re being honest, you really don't care, you just want to know she’s safe. Which you sort of do, you haven’t seen her but you talked to her the night before. 

Once your apple cider was gone and the movie was over it was pretty late and you were getting tired. You hauled yourself off the couch, still wrapped in the warm blanket. You took yourself to the bedroom and flopped down, cuddling with Natasha’s pillow. Liho jumped up and laid himself right at the foot of the bed. You fell asleep quickly, snuggling deeper into the pillow and blankets. You dreamt of her, of how she hated the holidays but put up with them because she loved you, though she hadn’t said it yet. You knew it though, you knew she loved you.

Morning light streamed through the blinds, adding soft glow to the room. You opened your eyes and saw a fiery red glow in front of you. A smile grew on your face before scooting forward and wrapping your arm around her waist and kissing her head. Natasha grumbled and tried to bury herself in the blankets, pulling away from you. You just snuggle closer, burying yourself in her hair and inhaling her scent. She pressed her back against your chest and grabbed your hand.

“Good morning, baby,” Natasha spoke quietly, her voice heavy with sleep. She intertwined your fingers. 

“You’re home,” Nat could practically hear the smile in your voice as she turned to face you. She had dark circles under her eyes but she was still the most beautiful person you’d ever met. She laid her hand on your cheek and kissed you gently. “I missed you,” you said to her. “I was almost too distraught to decorate.” You gave her a shit-eating grin and she shook her head.

“Well I’m glad you made it through.” She smiled at you before pulling herself up and getting out of bed and pulling you along with her. As you got dressed she headed to the bathroom. You hear a long, loud groan. “Why?” She yelled. You raise and eyebrow and stand in the doorway. “Only you, literally, only you, would buy pumpkin toothpaste.” She threw the tube at you before rummaging through the cabinets to find the regular mint paste. You chuckled, set the tube down on the counter and went back to getting yourself ready.

You were in the kitchen reading the newspaper when Nat walked in. She was obviously ready for a lazy day. One just spent on the couch watching crappy movies and eating junk food. She grabbed a mug down from the cupboard and went to pour some coffee. Before she did, she dumped out the mug and 3 fake spiders fell out. You grinned and she threw them at you, getting tangled in your hair. 

“Again, I ask, why?” You shrug, pulling the bright orange pieces of plastic out of the tangled mop on your head.

“It’s fun.”

“Maybe for you,” you just chuckled and went back to reading.

—

Nat and you were going to go for a walk, enjoy the colors of the leaves, the sweet smell of the trees, and the rain. You both pulled on your boots, hats, and Natasha headed to the closet to grab out jackets and scarves. As she pulled open the door, the motion triggered a three foot tall witch to start cackling, scaring Natasha. Or more accurately making her flinch, barely, and sigh, and throw shoes at you that were in the closet. Ducking and dodging her attacks were tricky, but eventually you got close enough to pick her up and throw her over your shoulder.

“Put me down, Y/N!” She yells and hits your back. You set her down, giving her a quick kiss on the temple. “Why on earth did you put a motion activated witch in our closet?”

“I wanted to see how you’d react.” You state simply, shrugging your shoulders.

—

“Babe, have you seen my keys?” Natasha yelled from the front room. They weren’t in any of the normal spots. All of the halloween stuff was cluttering up every surface in their apartment, barely enough room to put her keys down on a surface not covered in pumpkin shaped mats or a bat table runner or what have you.

“No I haven’t,” You reply snickering. She narrowed her eyes and looked more intently at the ‘stupid’ decorations. She groaned when she looked up and saw her keys suspending from the fake cobweb. She grabbed them and went storming into the kitchen.

“This is getting ridiculous,” she folds her arms over her chest. “Not getting, it is.” She shook her head. 

“You don't like my decorations.” She narrows her eyes at you and clenches her jaw. You lower your eyes and frown, knowing you shouldn’t joke or push her. “I’m sorry,” you whisper, she sighs. 

“I love that you love fall so much, but it gets to be too much. The little pranks and such.” You nodded. “I’m going to the store, don't do anything dumb while I’m gone.” She hugged you and started to head out.

“No promises.” You call after her, smiling lightly.

—

Nat wasn’t going to lie to herself, she was hoping that some of the decorations would have been taken down by the time she got home, none were. In fact there were more. More skeletons, bats, and the most annoying the stupid spider webs. They hung off of everything. The counters, the coat rack, maybe even the bed when you were done with them. So when Natasha got home and the first thing she did was run into a spiderweb hanging low enough for even her to walk through, she knew that this season was only going to get more rough. 

Those fake spiders webs seemingly hung from every surface and from every doorway. They hung down low enough for them to hit her in the face. Walking into the bedroom one of them seemingly had more weight and she pulled it down. She looked down at her hand and furrowed her brow when she saw the ring. She looked up and started to wander around, looking for you. She found you in the kitchen.

“What is this?” She asked putting out her hand.

“Shit, I thought you’d be home later. That’s uh, that’s a ring.” You said rubbing your neck with a shy smile. “I was going, am going to propose.” You chuckled lightly, looking down at your feet. “What would you say, if I, when I propose.” 

“Oh my gourd, I think the crystal ball is working. The spirits are telling me, you’re a dumbass. How did I fall in love with you?” She threw her arms around you and gave you a kiss. “Of course I’d say yes.”

“Oh good.” You wrapped your arms around her and squeezed her tightly. “Well, I guess that’s your ring now.” She slipped the ring on and kissed you again.

#Natasha Romanoff x reader #Natasha Romanoff imagine #ldatfwc #black widow x reader #black widow imagine #Natasha romanoff #black widow #marvel #my work

[sourpatchkidsandacokecan]

Clint Barton😊

I will mark it off momentarily, sorry I didnt answer sooner, I've been sick today and still went to work anyway.

#little darlin answers #ldatfwc sign up

[sourpatchkidsandacokecan]

can i enter with 28 with bonky pls 🧡🧡

Yes! I cant wait to read it!

Join my fall writing challenge!

#ldatfwc sign up #who the hell is bonky #i know what you meant but i couldnt resist the reference #also this gif kills me

[sourpatchkidsandacokecan]

Hi! Just saw this! Love fall/Halloween!! Could I do #10“Okay, who’s raising the dead when I’m trying to sleep?” w/ Daredevil? Well it'll probably be more Matt😊 Pretty Please?

It is yours and I cant wait to read it!

Also, I nearly choked eating my lunch when I saw your ask, I was that excited (very few people write for him).

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[sourpatchkidsandacokecan]

Any chance I could possibly do another prompt from your all things fall list?

Yes, of course! What number and character?

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[sourpatchkidsandacokecan]

Hi love!!! Could I have prompt no.65? with our boy bucky 🙈 💖

You got it!🎃

Cant wait to read it!

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[sourpatchkidsandacokecan]

Hi can I please have prompt 21? Thanks

All yours! What pairing dear?

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[sourpatchkidsandacokecan]

Can I do 19 w Loki?

Ah, scratch the first answer, 19 is taken! 20 is available though!

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