Opposites Aca-Attract

Content

IMAGINE: On nights like these, private NCIS agent Gibbs would rather be down in his basement working on a project. He wasn’t one to go out to bars or spend all night playing some game online like his coworkers. Tonight, however, thanks to a bit of liquid courage, you show him another way to enjoy the night. WORD COUNT: 767 WARNINGS: Fluff with our favorite hard ass agent, mentions of heavy alcohol intake

Gibbs can’t think of the last time he felt this content. There were moments he’d prefer to hide in his dimly lit basement; working on his projects and sipping on his bourbon.

This time he was in the kitchen, leaning against the counter sipping on tepid coffee he found lying around. It would’ve been a shame to let it go to waste. 

Unfamiliar music played softly in the background, tempting him to shut it off, to enjoy the silence. But from past experience, Gibbs knew that if even tried shutting it off, he wouldn’t live to see tomorrow. Instead, he settled for enjoying his rapidly cooling caffeine boost, successfully hiding his grin behind his mug.

There weren’t many things that could convince him to ignore urges like that; his coworkers could count on one hand what could.  

“Are you just going to stand there all night or are you going to join me?” You teased from across the room, slowly swaying along to the music. 

Not even Tony would ever guess that his stone-faced boss would ever be put in his place by a lover. 

“I’m fine with just enjoying the show,” Gibbs replied. 

“You’re no fun, Jethro,” you pouted. Before he could say anything, you swiped up your own mug from the kitchen table, loudly drinking down the contents. You pulled away with a whine, signaling you finished it sooner than you liked. 

“Is that from that bottle Tobias tried bribing me with?” Your boyfriend questioned. “I thought he knew better than that.” 

He pointed to the dark bottle left on the table, squinting to see how much was left in it. 

“Honey.” It wasn’t often that Jethro used pet names, so this sudden use caught you off guard. “That damn thing is almost empty, I think you’ve had enough.”

Maybe that was true. On your second glass, you had spilled some wine on your shirt, prompting you to replace it with one of the oversized navy sweatshirts Jethro kept around. He had yet to comment about you stealing his shirt, but based on his smirk, he didn’t mind. 

“Finish it with me then,” you pleaded. 

“I’ll stick with my joe,” he assured, lifting his mug to prove it.  

Rolling your eyes, you reach for the wine bottle, almost knocking it off the table. It didn’t click in your head how fast Jethro moved; first, he was next to the fridge and now he was by your side holding the bottle you had almost knocked to the floor. 

“Thank you for proving my point,” he grumbled, begrudgingly pressing a kiss to your forehead before looking around for a stopper. 

“I was gonna put it away,” you grumbled back. 

You paid no mind to Jethro’s complaints, choosing instead to slide across the kitchen floor in time with the music. Your sock covered feet drifted smoothly against the linoleum tiling, sending you into the counter that your boyfriend previously occupied. Unfazed by the crash, you gracefully take a seat on said counter, ignoring the fact you almost fell over attempting to do so. 

“Don’t go too crazy there, I’d rather have you in one piece,” Jethro chided. He kept an eye on you as he stuck the bottle in the fridge. Before he could even shut the door properly, you started tugging on his shirt, silently begging him to come closer. 

“What are you doing, huh?” He asked. 

“I wanna dance,” you mumbled. 

“You want to dance?” Jethro repeated. He didn’t bother hiding back a smile this time as he watched you thumb the buttons on his collar. “May I remind you you’re pretty drunk at the moment? Do you think you’re up for the job?” 

Eager to prove him wrong, you hop down from the counter (With Gibbs subtly steadying you) and pull him close. 

“Oh, this means you want to dance with me?” He asked cheekily.  

At this point the music became a softer tune, encouraging Jethro to join you. What else could he do but oblige? 

The two of you began to sway, holding each other close. Neither of you spoke, choosing to simply lean into the other and enjoy the moment. 

Gibbs couldn’t think of the last time he felt this content. Having you here in his arms, not having to worry about Tony and Ziva bickering like children or Timothy getting picked on by said agents. He could just relax in the privacy of his own home with you. 

“Thank you,” he whispered in your ear. 

“For what?” You drowsily teased, feeling the effects of the alcohol slowing hitting you. 

“For being you.” 

Reading amazing fanfiction, then forgetting to bookmark it

Save Me

IMAGINE: You and Bruce had always had your ups and downs, but hey, if you were dating Batman, wouldn’t you? But, the two of you hit a major rough patch, one that forced you to leave. It’s difficult to get over him, but hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day. How hard could it be? WORD COUNT: 2.7k

Batman.

Everyone knew who he was. The Dark Knight of Gotham City. He was their official/unofficial protector. He was loved by some and hated by others.

Bruce Wayne.

He was almost just as popular as the dark crusader. But just as hated. To some, he was just as heartless as the devil.

Combined, you knew them as your boyfriend. Yeah, your boyfriend. You knew the billionaire's habit of dressing up at night and fighting criminals. Nothing about it really bothered you. Only the nights he came home with awful looking wounds.

Other than his dark counterpart and his billionaire persona, you loved Bruce just the same. Underneath that tough exterior was a man in need of love. And you were the perfect person to supply it.

Or so you thought.

It all ended on a cloudy night. Gotham was quiet, as if it too knew what was to come. That didn't stop a handful of idiots attempting to break into Wayne Industries. As Bruce left to deal with them, you had given him a kiss for luck.

That would be the last kiss you would have given him in a long time.

"Hey Bruce," you greet the billionaire as he entered the kitchen. You quickly grabbed a mug of coffee you prepared for your boyfriend and held it out. "How did it go?"

Ignoring your offering, Bruce carefully made his way around you. "That bad?" With a small grunt, you watch him slink down the hallway. Setting the cup down and follow him. "What happened?" You ask him again, walking into your shared bedroom.

Another damn grunt. Whatever happened definitely reached a sore spot.

With a small huff, you sit down next to Bruce on the bed. He flinches at the closeness. Hiding your hurt, you grab his hand. As you run your thumb across his calloused palm, you lean against him.

"Don't do this to me," you plead quietly.

Bruce had a thing. Sometimes when being Batman got too rough, he would shut everything out to control himself. You would be pushed away until he dealt with whatever problem he had.

"I have no choice," Bruce replied roughly, surprising you. He would never talk to you during his moods.

"We always have a choice," you tell him. "They're not always the best, but we all have decisions to make."

"You're right," your boyfriend agreed. He stood silent, seeming almost content being with you. The silence of the room is almost soothing.

"I can't do this anymore," Bruce suddenly stated.

The words made you freeze. What was he talking about? You had an idea, but kept your mouth shut.

"I thought I could keep this up," he went on. "I don't know what I was thinking when this started, but now I know what to do."

Bruce gently pushes your hand off of his and stands up. You don't even bother to look up as he sighs. "We both knew this day was going to come," he said.

When you don't reply, he sighs louder. "With you in my life, I won't have time to be Batman. This is for the best."

"Is it?" You suddenly ask. Momentarily taken aback by your shaky voice, you steel yourself. "Is it best for you or the people?"

"Don't do this Y/N," Bruce quietly pleaded. It was bad enough he waited this long to tell you. "Let's not make this harder than it should be."

"I'm not the one making this harder. It's you!" You claimed standing up. "Stop lying to me and tell the truth!"

"What more do you want me to say?" Bruce demanded. "What do I need to say that hasn't already been said?"

"Tell me why you want me to leave," you responded, your tone matching his. "You've had other opportunities to get rid of me, but you never did. So why now? What broke you?"

Nothing. He said nothing.

You spent hours, days even, crying over the billionaire as you wondered if he would come back home safe. Sometimes Bruce would return and be surprised that you were even there to greet him. He wanted you to go so badly so you wouldn't have to see him like this, but he was glad you hadn't left.

What changed?

Deciding you didn't want an answer, you turn to the closet and start rummaging through it. Seconds later, you emerge with a large duffel bag. It's filled to the brim with clothes you had packed beforehand.

Storming to the bathroom, you grab another bag from underneath the sink and fill it with your things. "So you've prepared for this?" Bruce asked quietly. It broke his heart when you refused to look at him. But he knew it was for the best.

"Not for this scenario, no," you quickly reply. "But I'm glad I had it, anyway."

The soft sound of clinking metal caught the billionaire's attention quickly. He saw you slipping off the necklace you wore.

"It's yours. Take it," Bruce told you. It shocked him when you shook your head.

"It'll only make it worse."

You gave the chain one last squeeze before you placed it on the dresser. The ring resting on the metal links glistened in the soft light as you tried fighting back your tears.

"Goodbye Bruce," you tell him. It hurts, but you know it's what you have to say. It was for the best.

The hero watches as you leave the room but says nothing. He knows that if he utters a single word, he'd start begging you to stay. But it doesn't stop him from taking a last look.

A Few Months Later...

"How are you holding up Y/N?"

Whoever asked had to repeat it several more times before you snapped out of your daze.

"Did you say something?" You ask your friend. (Male Friend's Name) shakes his head as he takes the crystal flute from your hand and replaced it with a full glass.

"I thought you weren't drinking," he jested quietly as a waiter calmly took the cup from him. Nodding his head in thanks, he (Male Friend) pulled you closer.

"You're not all here, are you?" He asked you softly. He knew the pain you were going through. He sat there by your side as you cried out for the man who left you. It broke (Friend) to see you so out of it.

"Not exactly," you reply quietly. You fiddle with your bracelets as you keep your eyes on the floor. "How did I let you convince me to come to this... Thing?"

(Male Friend) had begged you to join him to a charity ball that was being held in the heart of Gotham City. Since he was an officer of the law, he was officially invited with the rest of his brethren. They also gave him an extra invitation, and he passed it on to you.

(Male Friend) practically got on his knees just to get you to come with him. He knew that you had gone to events like these in the past with Bruce. If it wasn't for the billionaire, you wouldn't have even wasted a thought on a ball.

But since the breakup, you didn't really go out much. (Male Friend) jumped at the opportunity of the charity event, seeing it would get you out of the house. You reluctantly agreed after your friend promised that he'd buy you the next 15 hero movies that came out.

"You never could resist superheroes," (Male Friend) joked, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

'You have no idea,' you thought.

An hour slipped by as your friend dragged you around the large ballroom. He insisted that you meet all of his coworkers and friends that he met over the years.

From previous experiences, you learned to keep a conversation going and to pretend to care what they talked about.

Things were going well until the shooting began.

All over the room, waiters and other banquet servers dropped their things and pulled out hidden automatic weapons. A few near the main doors fired randomly into the air, causing a stir in the crowd.

Immediately, all the officers reached for their guns until one of them reached for a human shield.

Lucky you.

He wrapped an arm around your throat while he rapidly swung the gun around. "Anyone of you pigs even thinks about firing your weapons and this bitch gets it."

To prove his point, he let his gun hang by his side and pulled out his knife. Pressing it to your throat, he dug it into your skin. (Male Friend) instantly lowered his gun and ordered his comrades to do the same.

"Good to see you know how to follow commands," the man commented. Keeping his word, he lowered the knife.

Your captor yelled at the other shooters in a foreign language. They ran around the place, corralling the people into groups. You watched as they focused on the politicians and other public officials.

Terrorists. They had to be. The mob would've focused on the wealthy and police officials.

Helping Bruce had its pros. Denying his request that you learn self-defense was not one of them.

As the lower terrorists work, the man holding on to you struck up a conversation.

"You know," he crooned into your ear, dragging his nose up and down the side of your neck. "After we're done here, I can take you back to my place and... Get to know each other better?"

"Over my dead body!" You hissed at him. 

With a growl, he raised his knife to your throat once more. "Don't make me mad," the man warned. "I can slit your throat this second and not blink an eye."

Just as you go to say something else, one window to your right shatters as a dark figure comes barreling through. Most of the civilians duck to avoid the flying glass, along with the terrorists.

The lights flicker as the silhouette weaves through the people, quickly picking off the radicals. As it nears you and your captor, it freezes. For once, you can see the face of the Dark Knight.

Your Dark Knight.

Getting over his moment of weakness, he pulled out a famous Batarang and prepared to fire. Just as he did, your captor pressed the knife into your throat. "Try it bat freak," the terrorist hissed. "Or you'll get this poor girl killed."

Bruce looked to you, unable to hold back the emotions threatening to overcome him. He opened his mouth to call your name, but you silently pleaded that he wouldn't.

"JuSt LeT hEr Go AnD yOu AnD I CaN sEtTlE tHiS," Bruce demanded, his distorted voice just as you remembered it.

Shaking his head, the man dragged you over to the window the hero barged into. He glanced over the edge and grinned when he noticed how far you were up.

Sending a wicked smirk towards the vigilante, the radical tilted you over the side. "Still want me to let her go?" The man taunted.

Bruce took a step forward. "Do It, AnD I'Ll MaKe YoU rEgReT iT!" He screamed menacingly.

"Is that so?"

As he prepared to throw you out the window, you saw Bruce run towards your direction. But even he wasn't fast enough to save you.

You can't hear your quick cry over the rushing wind flooding your ears. The broken window grew farther and farther away as you fell.

Have you ever heard about people who like to freefall from planes? The daredevils who like to plummet to the ground and don't release their parachutes until it's almost too late.

They talk about the rush that they get from feeling the air swishing through their hair as the scenery flashes past them. Their hearts practically burst out of their chests once they realize that this is real.

You felt all of that. But it wasn't beautiful.

You wouldn't fall safely to the ground without a parachute. You wouldn't land on the pavement with just a scratch or two. Your heart, along with other things, would explode out of your torso the second you splattered on the sidewalk.

A blurry object shoots towards you from the way you came. You blink slowly as it grows closer and closer like a speeding bullet.

Wanting him to be the last thing you see, you close your eyes with only a prayer echoing through your mind. He wouldn't hear it, but it made you feel better.

Save me, Bruce.

Darkness quickly overtook you as the air left your lungs.

"(NaMe)?" A gruff voice whispered. "(NaMe)? CaN yOu HeAr Me?"

A covered hand gently takes your chin and tilts it side to side. Your muscles seemed to scream as you slowly open your eyes.

Things are dark as you stare into nothingness. It isn't until hazel eyes meet yours do you realize who's calling for you.

Bruce looks worried as you stare at him with a blank face. He goes to ask if you're all right when you capture him in a hug. "Thank you," you whisper in his covered ear, gently pressing a kiss to his cheek.

As you go to pull away, the hero pulls you closer and presses his lips to yours. Shocked by the action, it only takes you seconds to eagerly respond. And just as quickly the kiss ends.

Bruce pulled back, carefully cupping your face with his gloved hands. Rubbing his thumbs over your reddened cheeks, he shook his head.

"I aLmOsT lOsT yOu ToNiGhT," he murmured. "I tHoUgHt I wAs KeEpInG yOu SaFe By PuShInG yOu AwAy bUt I wAs WrOnG."

You laugh quietly as you shake your head. "I could've told you that, you dumbass." Giving him another kiss, you suddenly look around your surroundings.

"I think you should take me back now," you told the undercover superhero. "(Male Friend) might get worried if I don't show up back at the gala."

"ThAt... ThAt'S a GoOd IdEa. HoLd On."

He gently took you into his arms, quietly instructing you to wrap your arms around his neck before he jumped off the side of the building. The wind whooshed past your face, reminding you of your almost deadly fall, causing you to bury your face into Bruce's neck.

It tempted the billionaire to chuckle but decided against it, seeing you were so fragile at the moment. With skilled movements, the hero hurled a Batarang towards the nearest building, shooting a strand of rope that swung the two of you through the air.

It wasn't long before you approached the gala building. Police swarmed the area as they rounded up the dumbasses who even dared to step into Gotham City.

Bruce gracefully landed on top of shattered glass as he entered the almost emptied gala room. He carefully set you down as he checked you over one last time for any other injuries.

"WiLl I sEe YoU aT hOmE?" He asked you shyly, keeping his voice low so only you could hear. Keeping your gaze on your shoes, you feel your lips form into a small smile.

"Only if you pick me up at my place and get my things," you tell him.

Somewhere near the entrance, (Male Friend) noticed your reappearance and caught your attention. "Y/N!" He shouted, catching your attention as suddenly fought to get to your side.

"I'Ll Be ThErE oNcE tHiS bLoWs OvEr," Bruce commented before jumping out of the broken window.

Watching your lover swing into the night made your once broken heart skip a beat as you realized Bruce came back for you.

"Woah, you all right Y/N?" (Male Friend) demanded as he pulled you into a hug, quickly pushing you away to check your skin for visible gashes.

"Yeah, I'm uh... I'm fine," you told him assuredly.

Snapping out of your daze, you look up to your friend who still held his worried gaze. Realizing that you were too calm, you took a fresh approach.

"Hey, I just met Batman. As you said, I never could resist superheroes!"

Rolling his eyes, (Male Friend) pulled you into another hug. He kept you in a tight grip as if to reassure himself you were safe and sighed.

"Let's just hope this kept your mind off of Mr. Playboy," he teased. Sharing a chuckle, you glance nervously to the side as you recalled the promise you made to Bruce.

"Sure it did..." You say uneasily, thinking of a way to explain to your friend how you were getting back together with your ex.

It’s Ok

IMAGINE: Dating someone can get a little hard when someone doesn’t like your boyfriend. But you and Bucky can get through it, right?  WORD COUNT: 3.6k  WARNINGS: Trauma, a little cliché but hey you’re a teenager in most of this

"What the hell is wrong with you dad?" You spit at your father. "Bucky was hoping he could come over to the house one fucking time and have a civil conversation, and you had to ruin it!"

"I don't like that boy." He responded, crossing his arms as he glares at you.

"DOES IT LOOK LIKE I CARE? I LIKE HIM! HE MAKES ME HAPPY!" You retort angrily, quickly glancing out the window. You watched the dust continue to settle where Bucky had driven away.

"Hello, sir." Bucky greets your father, straightening himself the moment he saw the older man as walks into the house.

"Barnes..."

At that moment, you walk out of the kitchen. "Hiya, dad." You say nervously. He wasn't due home for another thirty minutes. He had caught you in the middle of preparing an enjoyable meal for the three of you.

"What's going on here?" He asked, zeroing in on your boyfriend.

As Bucky struggles for an answer, you step in. "We're making (Favorite Dish)."

"Why?"

"Well sir," Bucky begins. "Y/N thought it'd be a swell idea to throw a dinner and just have a friendly conversation."

Your father walks past the both of you, stepping into the kitchen and taking in the food being prepared. You and Bucky approach him nervously.

"I suppose."

Long story short, the dinner didn't go as you thought it would.

Your dad kept asking embarrassing questions, then bringing something up from Bucky's past. It was hard not to scold your father. Whenever Bucky got irritated or embarrassed by a certain subject, he'd reach for your hand underneath the table and grip it.

This happened a lot.

Bucky left quickly after the food was gone, giving you a small kiss on the cheek before leaving in his dusty old pickup truck Steve's parents lent him before they died.

"You didn't have to be so rude." You whisper once you finally calm down. "You know how Bucky is with his father and the army. Why did you have to bring it up?"

"Because a true man can handle the harsher things in life."

"You're just saying that because you want him to feel weak!"

Growing tired of this never-ending fight, your father shut it down. "Enough! I don't want to hear another word about that Barnes boy. I expect you to end things with him. He's a troublemaker." And that was that.

Or so your father thought.

You and Bucky would always meet up in town, spending the day together before you'd go your separate ways. Your father would get suspicious, but you'd come up with the cleverest lies and convince him otherwise. It wasn't until Bucky's twentieth birthday, several months after the dinner; your father finally connected the dots.

He dragged you over to Steve's apartment where Bucky was staying, hell bent on kicking his ass. You and Steve tried stopping them, but it was useless. Like beating a sumo wrestler with a twig kind of useless. It wasn't until Bucky showed your father an application to join the army. It stopped him from attacking Bucky, but terminating your relationship with him.

It was hard for you to see him after that. He had already finished high-school, and it left you finishing senior year by yourself. Your father was strict with your rules about seeing Bucky, but he let it slide when it was time for him to go.

He had gotten accepted and now it was time for him and his squadron to be shipped out. Your father, out of what little kindness he had left in his heart, allowed you to say goodbye. It was hard letting him go. You broke down in silent tears the moment you took in his sharp uniform.

-

"Hey, doll." He smiled sadly; drinking in the sight of you. He didn't know when it would be the next time he'd see you again.

"Why are you doing this?" You ask him, grabbing his shoulders. "Is it for the money? Why? Why are you leaving me?"

Bucky gently removes your hands and holds them against his chest. "Y/N, baby. I ain't doing this for the money." He brings his lips against yours and kisses you sweetly.

"I'm doing this so I can prove to you, and your father that I can make something of myself. That I can be that guy who made a difference. That one guy who isn't labeled a troublemaker or a brainless oaf." He squeezes your hands encouragingly. "By the time I come back, I can prove to everyone here in this small little place, I can be the good guy. I can be the one to take care of you."

"But you don't need to do this!" You tell him, pulling your hands away to wipe your tears. "If anyone can't see how amazing you are, they can go screw themselves. I love you for the sweet man you are. You don't need to join the damn army to prove shit!"

"Y/N..." Bucky watches as you grow quiet. He wraps his arms around you and holds you close.

"I don't want to lose you out there," you mumble into his chest, most likely staining his uniform with your tears.

"I'll make sure he doesn't die out there," someone beside you says.

"Steve?" You say, lifting your head from Bucky's torso. "You're going with him?"

The short blonde smiles gently, watching as you pull away from Bucky to give him a hug. "Who's better than me to keep him out of trouble?"

"That's my line," Bucky says, drawing you into one last embrace. Your dad watches from afar as you two kiss goodbye.

-

Everything was all right at first. Every Friday, you would receive a letter from Bucky (And Steve!) talking about what had happened in the past week, not forgetting to mention how much he had missed you.

With the occasional joke here and there, he would always express his love for you in simple poetry. Then you would quickly send your own letter, equally expressing the love you shared and reminisced about the memories the two of you had.

For six months, things had gone smoothly. Then the letters slowly stop. For weeks on end, you wouldn't get a single letter. And when you did, it was quick and to the point.

Bucky and Steve had to go somewhere, and they couldn't send as many letters as they wanted to. Buck continued to say he loved you with all his heart, and he couldn't wait to come back home.

Weeks of silence had turned into months. It broke your heart to come home from school on Friday and receive no letters. Prom came around and you ended up going with your cousin, not wanting to ruin your relationship with Bucky just to have a romantic prom night. Graduation follows shortly after, and it saddens you to think you can't celebrate with James.

It's horrible. But then it happens.

Around the third week of college, almost three years after Bucky left, you came home to your father speaking with someone on your front porch. The soldier quickly spotted you approaching and ceased his conversation.

"Y/N?" The stranger questioned.

"Yes?"

"It's me!" The man carefully takes off his service cap and tucks it underneath his arm. "It's Steve!"

Warily glancing at the tall blonde, you think of ways to yell at him for being an asshole until you look into his eyes. The same blue beauties that belonged to your best friend.

"STEVE!" You're quick to engulf him in a hug but quickly retract. Blood roars in your ears as you become excited. If Steve was here, that meant Bucky was too.

"Where's James? I know he's hiding around here somewhere. If this is a ruse to scare me, I'll kick your ass, Rogers."

After looking around, you finally look to Steve, who at the moment doesn't look so excited. "Steve...?" Then you think of every horrible way a person could die in a war. None ease your worried mind as you ask your friend a single question.

"Is Bucky... Dead, Steve?" The gentle giant shakes his head but doesn't lose the solemn expression.

"No."

Your worry turns into confusion. "So where the hell is he?"

Your father, who you had forgotten about at the moment, spoke up. "We think it'd be easier to just show you..."

-

You stare through a large window. On one side, you stand with Steve and your father. On the other, a nurse hovers over a limp body lying in the hospital bed. She checks the respiratory ventilator and the tubes that go along with it. Once she finds everything in its place, she adjusts his IV line and leaves.

Walking out of the door, she catches your eye and gives you a sad look. It lasts only a moment until she leaves, but you know what just happened. She's seen this before. And it rarely ends well.

"How long has it been?" You ask quietly, returning your gaze to Bucky's figure.

"About a week." Steve replies, observing you. Your body tenses up as you close your eyes.

"What. Happened. To. Him?"

He explains how he and Bucky were traveling through Germany to pick up their mark holding government secrets when the train they were riding was shot at. Bucky had fallen out as he and the rest of the men started shooting back.

"It was a long fall." Steve choked out, letting out a few tears himself. "When the gunfire had stopped, we went looking for him. He lost a lot of blood when we found him."

Your shoulders steadily rise up and down as you attempt to stifle your cries. Your dad sees this and goes to comfort you. Just as his hand reaches your arm, you snap.

"YOU DID THIS! THIS IS YOUR FAULT! YOU MADE THIS HAPPEN!"

Both of the men look shocked as you yell. Hospital staff glances at the three of you but don't make a move to stop it. They've all witnessed it before.

You bring your hands down on your father's chest, weakly beating him. "HE WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT IF YOU HADN'T PUSHED HIM TO DO IT!" Steve has to pull you away, but you don't put up a fight. The moment he grabs you, all the fight leaves.

"I'll take them home, Mr. L/N," Steve promises, pulling you into Bucky's room. Your father soon leaves, taking a quick glance at you before scurrying over to Buck before leaving. Maybe it was his fault.  

You don't notice him leave. Your only concern was Bucky.

You note the thin, straw-like tubes sticking out of his nose connecting and watch as his chest slowly moves up and down. You note the differences from when you last saw Buck.

His hair was longer and much stringier than before. He wore a trimmed five o'clock shadow that suited him nicely. He had a few light scars across his cheeks, but none that ruined his look. Gently running your fingers through his hair, your arm brushes against the left side of his body.

Something feels off. "What else happened to him?" You whimper.

Steve takes a deep breath through his nose and approaches his friend. His arm brushes against yours as he reaches for the edge of the blanket. He hesitates for a moment, before pulling the thin material back.

The lights shine off it for a second, blinding you momentarily. "What the...?" The metal prosthesis replacing his arm glints underneath the weak lighting. A red star painted on his shoulder. It matches its peer perfectly.

"He lost it in the fall."

The tears fall like rain as you reach out for Bucky. Steve rubs your back, but it doesn't calm you down much. Only James could help you relax. Finding your tears had somewhat subsided, you grab your boyfriend's flesh hand and squeeze it tight.

"Do they know when he'll wake up?" You croak, your voice scratchy from all your crying.

"Doctors say because of the blood he lost and the stress they put him through, it'll be four weeks at the most." You glance at Steve, showing him your red eyes before focusing on Bucky.

"I'll wait for you."

-

Turns out, you didn't have to wait long. Around a week after receiving word that Buck was in the hospital, he woke up. And you were right beside him when it happened.

The doctors allowed you to stay the past few nights while he recovered. Steve visited every morning and evening to bring fresh clothes and make sure you ate properly. The nurses greeted you in the afternoon as they changed the bedpan and checked his vitals.

While waiting for him to stir, you would talk about what happened. You knew things had changed with both Steve and Bucky.

They differed from the reckless young adults you originally knew them as. Steve was obviously bigger and taller than before, and Buck was more physically defined.

"They gave me a series of experimental drugs," Steve told you on the third day. "One doctor there took a liking to me and convinced the commander to 'work' on me. He gave me this special cocktail that he made from an assortment of chemicals and it changed me."

"What about Buck? Wouldn't you guys have given him a regular prosthetic? Why a metal one?" Steve watched as you played with Bucky's metal fingers, rubbing the cool knuckles as you watched him sleep.

"It wasn't actually us who found him first." He explained. "The Russians got him, patched him up. Hence the red star. We got him back by trading a prisoner we caught that was involved in one of our previous assignments."

You couldn’t imagine the pain he must have gone through. All alone with the enemy, spending his days behind enemy lines getting tortured. At least he was home, safe from the danger.

“It’s ok now,” you whispered, gently pressing a kiss to the prosthetic palm. “You’re gonna be ok.”

-

When he finally awoke, you weren't exactly prepared. Neither was he.

Bucky woke up gasping, unable to breathe. His lungs felt like they were on fire! He had been having a nightmare; he was falling from a great height. When he landed, these people found him and started experimenting on him.

They poked and prodded at him with knives and such. So much pain, so much screaming.

Falling back onto the bed, he drank in his surroundings. The smell of lemon disinfectant, the sight of colorless food, the feel of a paper gown. Bucky knew exactly where he was. Just to make sure, he glanced at his arm. The metal limb proved his theory.

"It's not a dream..." He muttered, closing his eyes. As he started reaching for the assist button, he finally noticed you, sleeping in a chair resting in the corner. "Hey, there doll." He called out softly.  

You stir, but don't make an intention to get up. "Get up doll." He says louder. This time, you open an eyelid. At first, you don't react. You calmly close your eyelid before you quickly reopen both your eyes.

"BUCKY!" You shout happily, jumping up from the chair. The soldier braces himself for impact.

Your arms are quick to wrap around his neck as you pepper his face with kisses. He stops the attack by grabbing your hands in his own and squeezing them gently.

You're slightly surprised he can move his prosthetic arm like his original, but you don't think about it too much. "Calm down. I'm right here. I'm with you." The shock turns into happiness as you cry.

"You're here, you're actually here!"

"I am," Bucky responds, softly running his thumbs across the back of your hands. He removes one to cup your cheek. "You got more beautiful than the last time I saw you." His grin somehow stretches wider as you blush. "How the hell did you do that?"

"You're imagining shit, Barnes."

Bucky's large brown eyes take in your worn face, and he worries. Then he calmly slides over in his bed, mindful of all the wires and tubing, and pats the cleared area.

"Lay down with me, darling?" Bucky asks politely.

The way he asks and the sudden urge to sleep overcomes you, you can't say no. He lets go of you, allowing you to climb in next to him. His arms are quick to ensnare you once more, pulling you into this warm sanctuary.

"Sleep. I'll be here when you wake up. Then we can talk."

"You sure?"

The long-haired brunette smiles down at you gently, softly kissing your forehead. "I promise. I ain't leaving again for a long time."

-

The hospital was reluctant on letting Bucky go after a week of him waking up. Both of you had a sneaking suspicion they wanted to check out his new arm, but you luckily got him out of there.

Against the wishes of your father, you had started seeing Bucky again. It differed from before, I should add. He wasn't the same solo rebel you had grown to love.

He was more self-conscious about his figure now, always wearing jackets even when it was warm out. But his caring attitude stayed the same. Buck still loved you with all his heart. Your father still had a hard time accepting this.

You had moved out of the house a couple months after Bucky woke up, and the two of you bought an apartment together. To celebrate, your father had invited you over to have a nice dinner. After being convinced by Bucky, you had accepted.

The dinner started off smoothly. Then you excused yourself to go to the restroom. After washing your hands, you reached for a towel, only to find there was nothing. Not wanting to ruin your new shirt, you carefully leave the bathroom to grab a dish towel from the kitchen. To get over there, you needed to pass through the dining room.

As you approach, you suddenly hear your father speaking in a hushed tone.

"The game's up, Barnes. You're back home now. You don't have to put on a show anymore."

"It's not a show, sir," your boyfriend replied truthfully. "I love them."

"So why are you here then?" Your father demands. "If you love them so much, what are you trying to prove? Why do you need to seem like you're this perfect boyfriend?"

"Because I left them!" Bucky seemed to shout in a hushed voice. His voice drops to a harmless whisper: it's so soft you have to strain your ears just to hear.

"I left them all alone. I made Y/N suffer through hell and back because of a decision I made. I left so I could seem like a better man to you, but apparently it didn't!" He exclaimed quietly, not wanting you to hear.

"But thank God Y/N was still here for me. I honestly thought they would get fed up after waiting years for me, but they didn't; unlike you, they had faith that I was coming back to them, dead or alive. So now I'm done trying to please you, to stand up to your ridiculous standards. I thought me appreciating your child would be enough for you, making them happy, was enough, but apparently not."

His speech immediately gets you all riled up; there's an urge to yell in your dad's face. You hear a fork clinking against a plate before your father clears his throat. The action makes you wait.

"So you'd do anything to keep my little (Nickname) safe?" He asks Bucky seriously, clasping his hands together. Unbeknownst to you, Bucky was staring your father straight in the eye, clenching his own hands.

"Sir, I don't think you understood me at all." He looks to the direction of the bathroom before looking back at your dad. "I'd die if that's what Y/N wanted me to do. If it made them happy, I'd do it in a heartbeat."

There's silence until it's broken.

"Then I guess you can continue the relationship with my blessing."

It's then where you make yourself known. "Hi, guys!" You say cheerfully, pretending you hadn't eavesdropped on their conversation.

"What'd I miss?" You continue taking your seat next to Bucky. He smiles as he wraps an arm around your waist, pulling you closer. He quickly presses a kiss against your lips before looking to your dad.

They share a look. "Nothing much, darling."

You never ask about the conversation, figuring it was none of your business. But honestly, it didn't matter. Your father finally accepted Bucky, Bucky loved you, and you were all happy.

It didn't matter what other people thought about the two of you anymore. Bucky was safe at home with you. That's the way it was meant to be.

baby i’ve got half finished wips you couldn’t even imagine

🟢 You are still a writer even when you haven't written in a while.

🟢 You are still a writer even when you feel like you aren't writing enough.

🟢 You are still a writer when you feel like your work isn't good.

🟢 You are still a writer when other people don't like your work.

🟢 You are still a writer when you aren't published.

🟢 You are still a writer when you only have works in progress.

🟢 You are still a writer if all you write is fanfiction.

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” - G.K. Chesterton

Turtles helping each other in times of need 

(Source)

Like Music?

IMAGINE: You’re fairly new to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and thanks to past circumstances, you haven’t experienced much as other teenagers have. A certain speedster takes it in his own hands to solve your problem. WORD COUNT: 1,199 WARNINGS: N/A

The music washes over you as you start to dance. The crowd isn't wild as usual, but there's enough spark to start a wildfire. The lead vocalist leans into the microphone, belting out the next lyrics.

A singer in a smokey room. The smell of wine and cheap perfume. For a smile they can share the night, it goes on and on and on and on.

Cheering them on like the rest of the crowd, you continue to sway to the beat until someone grabs your waist.

"Having fun yet?" The owner of the arms asks you, their warm breath hitting your ear.

"Yeah, thanks for getting me out of that house," you reply, grabbing the hands.

Their palms are relatively soft, unlike the fingers which are rough at the tips.

"No problem Y/N."

You're turned around. Chocolate brown eyes stare down at you, full of warmth and pride.

"I knew you'd like it here."

A Few Hours Earlier

"So how are you able to control it?" You ask Hank as he leads you to the Blackbird.

"Awhile back, I designed a serum that briefly treats my genes. When it does that, it allows me to revert to my 'normal' form."

"That's amazing!" You exclaim.

Hank shrugs as if to say 'no big deal' before showing you a half-built plane frame.

"So, what do you need help with?" He points out to various spots and starts to explain the process.

"The jets need to be bolted; the previous ones weren't strong enough."

"The mainframe sitting on the processor over there needs to be re-tuned."

"See that wing? There's a certain section that must be welded up."

Already grabbing a few tools for the job, you're interrupted by a small 'whoosh'.

"Hey McCoy, what'cha doing?" You don't turn around, being too busy in gathering your needed equipment.

"Just showing our new engineer trainee the ropes."

After getting everything strapped to your vest, you turn around and face Hank, who stands by himself. "Wasn't someone just talking to you?"

Another 'whoosh' sounds this time right beside you. You quickly look to your right where a silver-haired man stands, sporting odd gear. Goggles sit on his forehead while clipped earbuds hang around his neck, connected to a SONY Walkman strapped to his belt.

"Yeah, that's me. You look very nice, why haven't we me before? I'm Peter Maximoff but guys around here call me Quicksilver. What's your name?"

He speaks so quickly; you have to ask him to repeat it. When you can properly hear him, you offer a hand.

"Nice to meet you... Quicksilver? I'll have to stick with Peter. I'm Y/N."

Peter smiles at the way you respond to him shyly but doesn't bring it up. "You new here? Never seen you around."

You explain how Charles stumbled upon you about a month ago and offered you a place at the school. You moved in only two weeks back. Hank had recently found about your knack with mechanical devices and technical skills.

Peter watches you the whole time you speak, listening carefully to everything you say. Once you're finished, he asks a random question.

"Have you ever gone to a concert Y/N?"

"No. Never had the time."

He scrunches his brown eyebrows in confusion before shaking his head. "You have really never gone to a concert before?" He looks you up and down, smirking broadly once he does.

"That won't do."

In seconds, you feel all the excess weight from the power tools gone. They're quick to reappear in a small pile at Hank's feet. Peter, out of nowhere, stands by your side.

"Sorry Hank," he starts, already slipping on his goggles. "Your little class with Y/N will have to be postponed. I am going to take her to have the time of her life."

Scrunching your nose up in confusion, you look at him. "Really?"

"Yes." He replies. His hand reaches for the back of your head as you speak.

"And how are you-"

Everything rushes past as Peter grabs your head and starts running. Next thing you know, you're standing in your dormitory.

"-Gonna do that?"

Peter knowingly grabs a small trashcan from the corner of the room and hands it to you. Quickly spitting up the little breakfast you had, you glare daggers at the speedster.

"Give me a bit of a warning next time."

"Oh, I will," he responds playfully. One second he's gone, but quickly returns the next with a small pile of clothes in his arms.

"Put this on," Peter says before tossing them at your face. Catching them with ease, you eye them curiously.

"What's wrong with what I have on now?"

"It's nice but you might want to be a bit more comfortable where we're going."

Agreeing to his terms, the fellow mutant waits patiently as you change, leaving the room while you do like a gentleman. Once you've finished, you call him back in.

"You have nice taste, Peter." You compliment, looking over your clothes in the mirror.

"Nah, you just make it look good."

Fixing your shirt, you dare to ask Peter where you were going in order to hide your embarrassment.

"Have you ever heard of Journey?"

"The band?" You question. "A little. I don't listen to music so their songs are a mystery to me."

"I am trying to develop an interest in you Y/N. Are you trying to turn me off or something?"

This boy was definitely not going to make things easy for you. Feeling your cheeks reddening, you turn to Peter.

"I'm sorry. I don't usually have time to listen to music."

"Well, we're going to change that." He grabs your head once more before rushing off.

Several hundred miles later, the two of you stand on a grassy lawn, surrounded by a scattered amount of fellow teenagers and middle-aged adults, all in ripped clothing. A large stage is settled nearby where a crew sets up sound equipment.

"And now we wait."

-

And so, you did. As the band readied themselves for a performance, you and Peter got to know each other better. He had a twin sister named Wanda and along with his mother, they lived in a house full of stolen goods. He then adds how he once had broken into the pentagon and freed the man who supposedly killed JFK.

With every passing minute you talked, you feel more and more intrigued by him. It was nice, having a guy your own age to hang out with who actually let loose.

Then the lights dimmed down as the music started to pour out of the large speakers. It hit you like a tidal wave and you immediately fell in love with it. You started dancing and laughing, something you rarely did anymore.

As they started to play another song, you allow Peter to hold you from behind.

"This is nice," you tell him, swaying from side to side. "I never thought myself to be a rock kind of person."

You look up to Peter who gazes down at you with affection.

"We never think ourselves to be a lot of things but we're still here."

Things were really looking good now.