You turn approximately seven shades of red.
i wish lmao
Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader | Eddie Munson x Y/N
Summary: You, a flustered classmate, get roped into Hellfire—and Eddie Munson’s full attention—whether you're ready or not.
-
Of course it does.
You're minding your business—eating your sad excuse for a sandwich, making occasional eye contact with your best friend who’s halfway through reenacting her latest dream about marrying one of the Duffer twins (the hot one, not the weird one), when it happens.
"Eyyyyyyy, look who’s sitting all alone."
You don't even need to look up. The voice is unmistakable—equal parts gremlin and rockstar, loud enough to turn heads, dramatic enough to make your stomach drop like an elevator.
Eddie Munson, crown prince of chaos, Hellfire overlord, and undisputed reason you’re currently forgetting how to breathe.
He slides into the seat across from you like he owns the place. Hair wild, rings clinking against your table, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. He's got that look—the one that spells trouble in all caps.
"What’s up, heartbreaker?" he says, leaning forward like you're sharing secrets instead of a juice box and a bag of chips.
You blink.
Then, you turn red.
Not a little red. Not a "just jogged up the stairs" pink. You turn seven shades of red, exactly.
Like a cursed Pantone palette: bashful blush, humiliated hibiscus, mortified maroon—you name it, you’re wearing it.
And Eddie? Oh, he notices.
"Oooohhh shit," he cackles, eyes lighting up. "You are blushing. This is incredible. I didn’t know people could actually turn that color."
“Shut up,” you mutter, covering your face with your hands like that’s gonna do anything. Your fingers are on fire. Your ears are boiling. You’re fully convinced you’re going to pass away in the cafeteria.
Death by Eddie Munson.
"Don’t be shyyyy," he teases, leaning in even closer. You can smell his cologne—cheap, but somehow perfectly, utterly Eddie—and see the way his eyes crinkle when he’s laughing. "I came over here to ask if you wanted to come to Hellfire tonight. We need someone to play the elf ranger ‘cause Gareth rolled a nat 1 and got his character cursed into a tree."
You peek between your fingers.
“You’re inviting me?”
Eddie shrugs, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Why not? You’ve got elf energy. Also…” He lowers his voice to a fake whisper. “I like when you get all flustered like this. It’s very entertaining.”
Your soul leaves your body. You are now astral projecting. Floating above the cafeteria in shame.
“Eddie—”
“I mean it,” he says, interrupting your spiral. “Come by. You can sit next to me. I’ll even let you borrow one of my dice. The sparkly ones. Only for special people.”
You open your mouth to respond—something witty, something cool, something even vaguely coherent—but instead, you make a noise that sounds suspiciously like a kettle boiling over. Steam included.
Eddie just laughs again, softer this time. “You’re cute when you’re panicking, y’know that?”
He winks—winks—and before you can combust or throw yourself into the nearest trash can, he’s already on his feet.
“See you at seven, elf ranger,” he says, tossing you a grape from your fruit cup. “Don’t be late.”
You catch it, stunned. Still red. Still stupid. Still completely doomed.
You turn to your friend.
She’s already halfway across the cafeteria, speed-walking toward the table where the rest of your friends are sitting. You can hear her stage-whispering before she even gets there:
“YOU GUYS. IT HAPPENED.”
Four heads whip around to stare at you in perfect unison. One of them shrieks.
You consider crawling under the table and staying there forever.
Eddie? He just grins at you over his shoulder as he walks away, smug as hell.
And you—seven shades of red and counting—cannot wait for 7PM.
--
Since there wasn't a character included, I assumed you wanted an Eddie story. If not, feel free to DM again :)
Bucky Barnes doesn't get jealous, he gets possessive. It's an immediate response in his brain; the minute he sees someone giving you eyes or looking at you with a little too much lust, he has to let them know you're spoken for.
It's not your fault you're good looking, but Bucky wishes that men wouldn't stare at you like a piece of meat. So, he takes matters into his own hands.
Bucky marks your neck frequently, the moment he notices the colour of the hickeys fading, there's new ones cropping up immediately.
Like now, you're in his bed, button up shirt open as Bucky marks your chest and neck.
"This is quite caveman like, Barnes." You tell him between gasps at the feel of his warm mouth on your neck.
He hums against your throat, and then pulls back. "Want me to stop then, doll?"
You roll your eyes as you tug the long strands of his hair, "Didn't say that did I?"
"Brat," his blue eyes shine with mischief as he attaches his mouth to your neck again, this time biting making you squeal.
"Bucky!" he laughs at your surprise.
"They'll leave you alone for like a week." he sounds very pleased with himself. "Even John will stop staring at you."
"He really doesn't Buck," this little feud with them is hilarious to you and the rest of the team, because they can't help but rile each other up over nothing.
"If you say so doll," Bucky kisses your lips and then readjusts your shirt. "Wanna go for lunch?"
His chin rests on your chest as he looks up at you. His blue eyes look even bluer today, like all the stress has melted out of them.
"Sure, baby." He really doesn't get jealous, he gets possessive and part of that possessiveness comes with showing you off right after he's marked you up. He can't wait for John to not be able to look you in the eye.
Dustin isn’t allowed to date until his sister, Kate, does. Problem is, he already has a girlfriend. He looks for help in the most unlikely place: the Hellfire Club. (complete)
prequel | my other works | taglist | read on ao3
00. prologue
01. head over heels
02. good old-fashioned lover boy
03. louder than words
04. love is a battlefield
05. bad case of loving you
06. moonage daydream
Wing Man: (AO3) Steve ‘the Hair’ Harrington is your best friend, and is constantly striking out. Sick of this, you two make a deal; you’ll wing man for each other. Hooking Steve up with dates is easy, but he finds himself struggling to find you a date. At least, until Dustin starts talking about his new cool friend Eddie. COMPLETE
Rating: T+
Current Word Count: 88k words
Tags: Strangers to friends to lovers, no use of y/n, reader is not described, weirdo!reader, rocky horror picture show, Flight of Icarus compliant, Steve and Reader are best friends, implied Upside Down but it's fine
Chapter 1 You are sick of seeing Steve striking out, so you come up with a solution that could work for both of you.
Chapter 2 You and Steve go hang out at the Palace Arcade with a bunch of high school students and pit two against each other in air hockey.
Chapter 3 You really should be trying to flirt, but somehow you and Eddie can only ever talk about Chris Morrison.
Chapter 4 Well, the arcade was a bust, but maybe going to a local dive bar and listening to music will yield better results.
Chapter 5 Ranting about Ozzy Osbourne counts as flirting, right?
Chapter 6 What DID he mean by five? The second meeting.
Chapter 7 Dustin spills the beans, and Wayne gives some advice.
Chapter 8 Eddie explains himself, and you two make plans to hang out on purpose.
Chapter 9 You and Eddie go on your first date, but the past always lingers
Chapter 10 It’s no longer Halloween, but the ghosts from yours and Eddie’s pasts are coming back to haunt you.
Chapter 11 Steve talks shit. Paige and Eddie talk business.
Chapter 12 You go to your audition, but things never go as planned.
Chapter 13 You remember.
Chapter 14 Corroded Coffin audition with Paige, and you take more than one risk.
Chapter 15 Everyone prepares for take off. The final chapter.
Epilogue Corroded Coffin takes flight, and you’re on air.
Post Credits Post Credit Scene
Bonus Stories
Next October: It's your birthday, and you're drowning in work. Thankfully, you have an amazing boyfriend to help you relax.
pairing: bucky barnes x f!reader
summary: you can’t stop posting live updates of the civil war
warnings: avenger!reader, fox shifter!reader, comedy, chaotic dumbass reader, grumpy bucky, the team is so done with reader’s shit, mentions of bucky’s past, swearing, civil war tension?, reader is team cap, suggestive content, fluff
a/n: guess who’s back bitches!!! this isn’t a request or anything, i just wanted to write some cw!bucky x reader. i promise i’m working on all the joaquin requests🤞🏻anyways enjoy lovelies :)
yourusername added to their story —>
[caption: sokovia accords?? ho what?!]
story replies
user1: lmao
user2: girl get over it🙄
user3: y’all need to be kept in check….
steverogers: y/n delete this
user4: you’re so real for this
jamesrhodes: 🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️
liked by wandamaximoff, samwilson, mariahill, and others
yourusername: throwback to that time my future husband almost killed my friends and i
tagged: @/steverogers @/samwilson @/natasharomanoff
view comments below
user5: GIRL WHAT?!
wandamaximoff: so that’s the guy you keep bringing up👀😲
user6: ho is that the winter soldier???
user7: wait a damn min—
user8: THE WINTER SOLDIER?!?!
user9: i don’t think y/n is okay…
user10: girl we been knew
steverogers: please stop calling bucky your future husband
user11: 😭😭
user12: y/n really out here tryna date cap’s brainwashed bestie from the forties
user13: honestly bucky barnes is so hot tho
samwilson: can your future husband stop leading us on a wild goose chase🙄
yourusername: that would be nice😔
user14: lmaoooooo
steverogers: please stop encouraging her, sam
user15: i’m convinced y/n was dropped on the head as a baby
yourusername: bold of you to assume i was held
user16: i—
user17: girl are you okayyyyy????
yourusername: don’t ask stupid questions
steverogers: this is why tony and i tried to get you to go to therapy🤦🏼♂️
natasharomanoff: when did you even have time to take these pics??
yourusername: uhhhhhhh
yourusername: so i may or may not have had time to prevent you getting shot….
natasharomanoff: …
nastasharomanoff: i hate you
liked by samwilson, natasharomanoff, sharoncarter, and others
yourusername: rip peggy carter but sam and i are slaying
tagged: @/samwilson
view comments below
user18: HELLOOOOO?????
user19: peggy carter: slayed. sam and y/n? SLAYED
user20: 😭😭
user21: OH MY GOD😭
sharoncarter: it’s what she would have wanted😔✊
yourusername: pouring one out for a legend😔✊
user22: peggy so would have wanted this!!😭
user23: omg i’m crying
user24: THIS is how i find out?!
samwilson: i would like everyone to know that cowboy hat did wonders for me
yourusername: save a horse, ride a cowboy
yourusername: except it’s more save a horse, ride a bird?
user25: y/n what😭
steverogers: i don’t even know what to say right now…
user26: rip to a real one
yourusername added to their story —>
[caption: HUBBY NO!!!!]
story replies
steverogers: y/n…..🤦🏼♂️
user27: so sorry babes…..
user28: rip✊
natasharomanoff: y/n. people are dead….
user29: girl, stop simping for a literal terrorist
user30: this is not it….
liked by sharoncarter, samwilson, clintbarton, and others
yourusername: my pookie and i have been reunited🥰❤️
view comments below
samwilson: awwww…..fuck your husband
yourusername: i’m trying….
user31: 😳😭
user32: y/n😭😭
user33: why the winter soldier kinda….
user34: frfr👀
user35: he’s a literal terrorist. what is wrong with you people!
user36: still hot🤷♀️
user37: convinced y/n has like a dash cam on her harness or smth bc….
steverogers: why do i even bother🙄
user38: cap’s face😭😭
user39: watched the chase on the news, you hopping onto barnes’ back to get off the building was hilarious😭
user40: omg i saw thattttt
user41: and when he just tossed her to the side after by picking her up by the scruff😭😭
yourusername added to their story —>
[caption: the fucking audacity these bitches have…]
story replies
user42: awwwww
user43: why didn’t you just shift back😭😭
samwilson: deserved
yourusername: 🖕
natasharomanoff: they leashed you???
jamesrhodes: saving this for blackmail purposes
user44: why do you look so happy tho😭
yourusername: saw the love of my life
liked by jamesrhodes, natasharomanoff, tonystark, and others
yourusername: papa y papa are fighting and my love is locked up😔
view comments below
natasharomanoff: WE TOOK YOUR PHONE??
natasharomanoff: what is this sorcery
yourusername: 🤭🤗
user45: sad day to be y/n…
user46: y/n is a child of divorce😔😭
tonystark: stop posting pictures of secure government buildings
yourusername: *bugs bunny ‘no’ gif*
user47: bucky barnes committed regicide and has murdered countless people…
user47: he deserves to be locked up
user48: wrong account to say this to babes
user49: you act like the bitch cares
user50: frrrr….y/n is horrible too
user51: she should be locked up too imo
sharoncarter: king t’challa keeps looking like he’s a second away from murdering you…
yourusername: i have that effect on people
user52: 😭😭
yourusername added to their story —>
[caption: pookilicious is evil again😔😩]
story replies
tonystark: A LITTLE HELP WOULD BE NICE
natasharomanoff: GET OFF THE FUCKING PHONE
samwilson: i hate this bitch so much….
user53: those thighs tho👀😩
user54: GIRL RUN!!!
liked by wandamaximoff, scottlang, samwilson, and others
yourusername: abouta fight, kinda nervous👉🏻👈🏻
tagged: @/steverogers @/samwilson @/clintbarton @/wandamaximoff @/scottlang
view comments below
user56: we really made this girl an avenger😭
steverogers: bucky would like you to stop taking pictures of him
user57: 😭😭
yourusername: tell him to talk to me to the face then, bitch
samwilson: language!
clintbarton: language!
wandamaximoff: language!
user58: you still a criminal🤷♀️
user59: hope you get arrested😘
user60: team whatever team ends up with y/n and bucky barnes getting married
[liked by yourusername]
clintbarton: so this is why nat’s been complaining nonstop over text about you….
scottlang: great to meet you!
yourusername added to their story —>
[caption: weird spider kid beat these bitches asses]
story replies
samwilson: you’re insufferable🖕
user61: men doing men things: manspreading
user62: they look so done….
scottlang: oh shit, bird and scary dude are down!
user63: love how you always have time to update us😭😭
liked by scottlang, peterparker, wandamaximoff, and others
yourusername: 🎶everybody was kung fu fighting🎶
view comments below
steverogers: the least you could do is get a good pic of me….
user64: poor guy has given up trying to stop y/n😭
user65: 🎶kung fu fighting🎶
user66: 🎶those cats were fast as lightning🎶
user67: 🎶in fact it was a little bit frightening🎶
scottlang: 🎶but they fought with expert timing🎶
user68: omg hawkeye!!!
user69: why’s the spider got cap’s shield😱
user70: scarlet witch deserves to be locked up for lagos!!
natasharomanoff: i don’t know how you of all people managed to escape….
yourusername: ☺️🤗
yourusername added to their story -->
[caption: little guy can be big guy!!]
story replies
peterparker: big guy big guy big guy—
user71: omg ant-man?!
user72: holy shit….
user73: the duplicity of scott lang🤭
hopepym: well….that’s new
liked by natasharomanoff, tchallaudaku, peterparker, and others
yourusername: siberia is cold
tagged: @/steverogers @/buckybarnes
view comments below
user74: slay queen💅
natasharomanoff: d-did you make barnes an instagram???
yourusername: had a spare phone and was bored on the flight
buckybarnes: i have never met someone who can talk as much as you…
yourusername: awwww i love you too hubby!!
user75: egypt is hot
user76: usa is room temp
peterparker: man this is better than my footage!
user77: not y/n making the WINTER SOLDIER an instagram😭😭
liked by samwilson, scottlang, peterparker, and others
yourusername: my dads broke up and pookie lost his arm but it’s ok bc i got mcds😌
view comments below
user78: #rip stony 2016😔✊
user79: GIRL RIP THE AVENGERS?!
user80: avengers: 2012-2016😢
buckybarnes: i LOST my ARM
yourusername: you’d think you’d be used to it but noooooo
buckybarnes: IT WAS MY FUCKING ARM????
samwilson: the raft fucking sucks bestie
yourusername: i’m so sorry bestie
user81: i’m literally speechless rn…
user82: the winter soldier being framed WAS NOT on my 2016 bingo card😭😭
user83: frfr
user84: say sike rn
yourusername added to their story —>
[caption: damn this place is nice]
story replies
steverogers: we’re literal fugitives y/n
user85: i-is that fucking wakanda?!?
buckybarnes: i’m not getting rid of you anytime soon am i?
yourusername: nope!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~two years later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
liked by buckybarnes, steverogers, samwilson, and others
yourusername: stuck for life🤍🥂
tagged: @/buckybarnes
view comments below
buckybarnes: wouldn’t have it any other way, doll
user86: omg omg omg!!!!!!!!
samwilson: prettiest flower girl by the way!
user87: STOP😭😭
user88: you’re literally glowing🫶🏻
user89: congrats!!!
natasharomanoff: you see, this is an appropriate post
user90: y/n is the manifester of all manifesters…
steverogers: i can’t believe i just witnessed my best friend get married….
tonystark: lovely wedding. only critique is the groom
yourusername: 🖕
user91: 😭😭
user92: oh my god😭
steverogers: tony i swear to god—
clintbarton: language!
© tea-writes19 do not repost, translate, or copy
You and Eddie have this running joke.
Or at least it started as a joke.
Once Corroded Coffin started to take off, it was hard to not get jealous. All those pretty girls throwing themselves at him at every show. They'd wait at the merch table or near the back door where the band smokes their cigarettes. Even with you hanging off of his arm, they were relentless.
So Eddie started finding you before they could find him.
You liked being in the crowd during their sets. Some of the guys' girlfriends would sit sidestage, some of them would stay in the green room, but you preferred the energy of the show. Eddie always made sure you were front row, center stage. That way he could always find you.
He made a big deal out of it, too. Pointing you out every night during their last song and handing you a VIP laminate that would get you backstage. To all of these new faces, you were just another face in the crowd. It became a thing amongst their fans. Who would be the lucky girl tonight?
But it was always you.
Because you're his favorite groupie, aren't you?
That's what Corroded Coffin's security team started calling you. Jokingly, of course. But it's carried over.
"You know why you're my favorite fucking groupie?" Eddie hisses close to your face.
You can't respond. He knows you can't respond. If it weren't for both of his hands wrapped around your throat, then because he's got your legs folded up against your chest with your ankles next to his ears. Eddie's thrusts are relentless, his cock punching into your guts with brutality, and you can't make a fucking sound.
"Because you can fucking take it," he continues, punctuating the last two words with particularly rough assaults.
Your face is getting warm from the blood pooling in your head. Your brain is pounding in your temples with each stroke of his thick cock against your slick inner walls. You need to scream, but the wail trapped in your lungs sits right below Eddie's fists at the base of your throat.
"Oh, you have something to say? Didn't lose your voice screaming my name all night?" His voice is beginning to sound far off beneath the sound of your own heart thumping in your ears. "Fuck, you feel good. Squeezing my cock, baby. Don't worry, I'm gonna let you sing."
Your throat is released and Eddie's fingers slide beneath your head, weaving into your hair. A rush of air enters your lungs, and then you hear your own foul sounds.
The sound of begging, of pleading, of crying for him to never stop, to give you more.
"Please, Eddie. Please, harder, harder, harder!" Are the only words you can remember.
And you expect Eddie to mock you. He usually does, and it's usually the final nail in your coffin. What you don't expect is the tightening of his ringed fingers against your roots. He holds your head in place and spits on your face, silencing you for only a moment.
"You know this is when you're the prettiest?" Eddie says between gritted teeth.
With the blood flowing back to your brain, you begin to hear everything again. His little grunts and moans hidden by heavy breathing, the slapping of his sweat slick skin against yours, the creaking of his tour bus bunk bed. It all comes together like some sort of symphony of filth.
"When you're all fucked out. Makeup fucked, sweaty, my spit dripping down your face. You'll be even prettier with my cum leaking out of this pussy."
Your back arches into him at the mention of Eddie filling you up. He doesn't do it often. You're careful most of the time. But on special occasions... the risk is worth it.
Eddie laughs at your response, his cock pumping into your cunt faster.
"That what you want? Me to fill you up?" He asks mockingly.
That knot in your abdomen begins to tighten. Eddie's hips rut against your sensitive clit, stroking it in time with each thrust.
"Then everyone will know you're my favorite groupie, huh?"
Eddie's hips hit your core, his cock buried to the hilt, and he grinds his waist against your clit. Stars dot your vision. Every atom in your body shivers on the edge of oblivion.
"Won't they?"
Bucky Barnes x Reader
Summary: Everyone sees the Winter Soldier. But only you know what it means when he tugs your wrist and disappears with you behind a door, leaving the noise of the world behind.
The clink of champagne flutes, the low thrum of violins, and the hum of Manhattan elite conversation—none of it mattered. Not when Bucky Barnes was staring at you like he could set you on fire with a glance.
He was halfway across the ballroom, stiff in a black suit, nodding along as Tony Stark introduced him to some senator with too many opinions and not enough tact. But then his eyes met yours.
And then he was gone.
Your heart skipped. That look. That look always meant one thing.
You barely had time to excuse yourself from the agents chatting beside you before a silver hand found your wrist in the corridor—cool, familiar, and intentional. He didn’t say a word as he pulled you with him, down a side hallway where the music thinned into silence.
“Bucky—” you started, but the door to a closet swung open, and he backed in, tugging you along like gravity. The door clicked shut behind you.
And then his mouth was on yours.
He kissed you like a man unhinged—fingers gripping your waist, your neck, like he needed to hold you still or he’d lose the thread of reality entirely. You clutched at his shirt as his tongue slid against yours, desperate and aching, like this was the first time or the last.
Every time he did this—dragged you into quiet corners, tucked-away rooms, hidden places—it was like the world slipped away and left just the two of you. Bucky and you. Breathless. Real.
“Couldn’t wait,” he rasped against your lips. “You look too good in that damn dress.”
“And it took you how long to tell me?”
“Seventeen minutes,” he said, kissing down your jaw. “Don’t make me do that again.”
You laughed, high and breathless. “You’re completely obsessed.”
He grazed his teeth along your throat. “With you? Yeah. Unapologetically.”
His hands were everywhere—at your hips, your back, your thigh. One metal, one warm. He touched you like he couldn’t believe you were real.
In the dim light of that tiny closet, you felt more known than you ever had in your life.
The thing about Bucky Barnes was that when he loved you, it was quiet in public but relentless in private.
In the common room, he’d rest his knee against yours with studied nonchalance. At meetings, his hand would trail across your lower back like he needed to be tethered to something. But behind closed doors?
He fell apart for you.
He told you things he hadn’t spoken aloud in decades. Let you trace the scars on his shoulder blades and kiss the ones across his knuckles. He memorized your laugh and counted the ways you curled into him in your sleep.
That night, after the gala ended, and the stars claimed the sky outside the compound windows, Bucky walked you down the hallway to your shared apartment, hand never leaving yours. You didn’t speak. You didn’t have to.
Inside, he stripped off his suit jacket, collapsed on the couch, and groaned. “How do you have the energy for these things?”
“I’m fueled entirely by spite and the knowledge that Stark hates being ignored.”
He smirked and opened his arms. You climbed into his lap without hesitation, knees bracketing his thighs. He leaned his head against your shoulder like he was coming home.
“Better?” you asked, fingers threading through his hair.
“Much.”
You ran your nails lightly over his scalp. He sighed into you, melting like butter on warm bread.
“Tell me something soft,” he murmured.
This was your favorite game.
“Okay,” you said, brushing his hair back. “When I was little, I used to pretend that stars were just holes poked in the sky so the light from other worlds could sneak through.”
He hummed, low and content. “That’s a good one.”
“Your turn.”
He paused. “When I dream of you, you’re always wearing light. Like… not a dress. Just light. Like you glow.”
You blinked. “Bucky…”
“I think my brain’s trying to tell me you’re too good to be real.”
You kissed him then, slow and deep. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Later, you curled up together under a worn blanket on the couch. His fingers traced aimless circles into your thigh, and your legs tangled like ivy.
“Can I tell you something ridiculous?” he asked.
“Always.”
“I get jealous,” he said quietly. “At parties. Of people who get to talk to you. Watch you laugh. I want to stand behind you with a sign that says ‘She’s Mine.’”
You grinned. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you.”
“I think I’d look great in possessiveness.”
“You already do.”
He kissed the tip of your nose. “I just… I don’t want anyone thinking they can even try.”
“I’ve been yours since the day you offered me your hoodie in that freezing briefing room.”
He smirked. “I remember that. You were shivering.”
“I was shivering because you were wearing it before me.”
His eyes darkened. “Wish I could go back and kiss you right then.”
“Who says you can’t kiss me now?”
He didn’t need to be told twice.
It was almost 2 AM by the time you climbed into bed. The city glowed outside your window, soft light casting a silver sheen over his bare shoulder as he pulled you into his arms.
He curled behind you like a shield, metal arm tight around your waist, real one tucked beneath your head.
“Can I tell you something ridiculous?” you whispered into the quiet.
“Mhm.”
“I knew you were gonna kiss me tonight the second I saw your jaw clench across the ballroom.”
He laughed into your neck. “You read me too well.”
“You don’t even try to hide it anymore.”
“Why would I? You walk into a room and I forget how to breathe.”
You turned in his arms and pressed your palm over his heart. “You’re dramatic.”
He kissed your forehead. “Only for you.”
A beat of silence passed, thick with the kind of emotion that didn’t need naming.
“You’re the only part of my life that doesn’t feel borrowed,” he murmured. “You’re mine.”
“And you’re mine,” you whispered back. “Every hallway. Every kiss. Every night.”
He pulled you in closer, like he could memorize your warmth.
“You’re my peace,” he said, voice raw with truth. “Behind every door. In every quiet.”
And you believed him.
Because with Bucky, love didn’t need an audience.
It just needed a place where no one else was looking.
Taglist: @avengersfan25,@doilooklikeagiveafrack, @hits-different-cause-its-you, @fallen-w1ngs, @angelsoftbea, @a-century-of-sass
Want to join my taglist? Fill out the form at this link or drop a comment below!
Unwanted Masterlist
Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Avenger!Fem!Reader
Summary: When your FWB relationship with your best friend Bucky Barnes turns into something more, you couldn't be happier. That is, however, until a new Avenger sets her sights on your super soldier and he inadvertently breaks your heart. You take on a mission you might not be prepared for to put some distance between the two of you and open yourself up to past traumas. Too bad the only one who can help you heal is the one person you can no longer trust. WIP
Warnings: 18+ Minors: GTFO; I don’t serve your kind here. "*" indicates explicit sexual content (each chapter will feature its own warnings as needed), language, alcohol/drug use, drunk!Bucky, pick-me!oc, angst, mentions of CSA, angst, emotional affair, angst, physical infidelity (dependent on your pov), canon-level violence, emotional trauma, did I mention angst?, some fluffy moments, destructive behavior, injury, medical conditions, poorly translated Russian. More will be added as the story progresses, and some chapters will have specific warnings that I will keep under wraps to avoid spoilers. When we get to those sections, I will let you know, so if there is a specific trigger that you absolutely cannot handle, let me know and I will tell you if the section is safe. As always, please let me know if I miss any warnings.
Word Count: Currently 113.5k; Total TBD
A/N: And here I present unto you, my beloved, the fruit of my labors these many past moons. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to wait to completely finish this and post it all at once, or if I'll trickle it out while I continue to write it. I guess it depends on how generous my muse is to me, lol. Tagging @jmeelee to make her start reading this ;) I love you with custard and a wooden spoon! Banner By: The absolutely amazing @mrsbuckybarnes1917
Part 1 (Posted 3/6/24) Part 2 (Posted 3/6/24) Part 3 (Posted 3/6/24) Part 4 (Posted 3/6/24)
Part 1 (Posted 3/8/24) Part 2 (Posted 3/8/24) Part 3 (Posted 3/9/24) Part 4 (Posted 3/9/24) Part 5 (Posted 3/9/24)
Part 1 (Posted 3/10/24) Part 2 (Posted 3/10/24) Part 3* (Posted 3/10/24)
Part 1* (Posted 3/11/24) Part 2 (Posted 3/12/24) Part 3* (Posted 3/13/24)
Part 1 (Posted 3/15/24) Part 2 (Posted 3/15/24)
Part 1 (Posted 3/16/24)
Part 1 (Posted 3/17/24) Part 2 (Posted 3/17/24)
Part 1 (Posted 3/18/24) Part 2 (Posted 3/19/24) Part 3* (Posted 3/19/24)
Part 1 (Posted 3/21/24) Part 2 (Posted 3/22/24) Part 3 (Posted 3/23/24)
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Part 1 Part 2
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Part 1 Part 2
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
→ in which eddie munson and you absolutely hate each other's guts. what happens when your friends make a bet that you can't spend more than twenty four hours consecutively together?
→ tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn
→ warnings: strong language, eventual smut, minors dni
→ pairings: modern!college!eddie x college!fem!reader
chapters with smut marked with *
spotify playlist.
ao3
PROLOGUE: A BET
HOUR ONE
HOUR TWO
HOUR THREE
HOUR FOUR
HOUR FIVE
HOUR SIX
HOUR SEVEN
HOUR EIGHT
HOUR NINE
HOUR TEN
HOUR ELEVEN*
HOUR TWELVE
HOUR THIRTEEN*
HOUR FOURTEEN
HOUR FIFTEEN
HOUR SIXTEEN
HOUR SEVENTEEN
HOUR EIGHTEEN
HOUR NINETEEN*
HOUR TWENTY
HOUR TWENTY-ONE*
HOUR TWENTY-TWO
HOUR TWENTY-THREE
HOUR TWENTY-FOUR
EPILOGUE: A BET*
"BEYOND THE HOURS" - extra content posted outside of canon 24 hours. (i.e. eddie povs, groupchat conversations that were cut, scenes mentioned in passing, etc.)
PINTEREST | AO3 | SPOTIFY
shit’s been rough. shit was rough even before the blip. dr. hart shares an office with dr. raynor, and you share with waiting room with bucky barnes. set before tfatws; a friends-to-lovers, slowburn, eventual smut.
— CHAPTERS / completed!
1. I LANDED ON YOU LIKE A SUCKER PUNCH
2. BUT I’VE HAD WORSE NIGHTMARES
3. SO I’LL BE PLUGGED IN & TUNED OUT
4. WHILE YOU & I RIDE INTO THE SUN
5. PLATONICALLY SO, OF COURSE
6. GO AHEAD & PLUCK MY HEARTSTRINGS
7. TOGETHER WE’RE LOVERS ON THE LAM
8. SPIRALING TOWARDS THE STORM
9. KISSING IN THE AFTERMATH
10. TO THE TEMPO OF YOUR HEARTBEAT.
— DRABBLES & ONE-SHOTS
1. ALL BLACK
— OTHER
1. dolly’s jukebox, an audio imagine
2. the vacant mirrors tag
3. readers make their rabbit!
4. fan art & memes
5. the glass cannon’s club set list
— birbs
Pairing: Bucky Barnes x f!Reader
Summary: Cursed to sacrifice your life to save another, you were never able to connect with others, always meant to drift before you could belong. Death was all you knew. Then, one day in Brooklyn, you saved a young man, and for some reason, you kept seeing him again. And again. And again. No matter where you went, across decades, you always found your way back to him.
He was forced to live to destroy, you were forced to die to save—bound together in ways neither of you could understand.
Warnings: Angst (with an eventual happy ending). Death and Dying. Self-Sacrifice (Immortality / Resurrection). Canon-Typical Violence / Description of Wounds. Suicidal Thoughts. Implications and References to Child Death, Suicide, Self-Destructive Behavior / Self-Harm.
Notes:
No use of (Y/N), but you do go by a lot of different fake names over the years; if any of the fake names is your actual name, feel free to make up a name there instead.
Bucky calls you “Rose” (you’ll see why) and you call him "James." If your name is actually Rose... Sorry.
You had a family (specifically, you had a child you loved dearly... Please note "Implications to Child Death" tag).
PLEASE READ WARNINGS CAREFULLY. I will put a warning at the beginning of the chapter if the content is particularly dark. If I missed any warnings, please let me know.
Word Count: 4.6k
CHAPTER 1: August 1935 - June 1943
PART 1: LIFE ON YOUR LINE
How does someone tell a story if they don’t know how it started?
That question always tormented your mind when you opened your journal at the end of the day, staring at the next line waiting to be filled with tales of your life.
You knew how your life in general started. Born to two loving parents and given a brother a few years later. Worked day and night to provide for the family just like your mother did. Grew up with dreams, with some coming true, and always excited for the next day.
But now? You dreaded tomorrow. This dread began when your other life started; when a new story unfolded within you with no prologue—just chapter one and so forth.
Tightening your grip on your pencil, you started your entry the same: with the time and date:
August 10, 1935. 7:09 PM
From there, you would either write about your day or close the journal, putting it in a large glass jar that’d get hidden next to the other journals, right in between some rocks that decorated your brother’s grave. Today, there was nothing to write about, so you stood up, lightly brushed the dirt off your dress, and then walked away.
<><><>
August 11, 1935. 8:01 PM
You paused, wondering if there was anything worth writing about today. A few seconds went by before you simply exhaled, feeling frustration creeping up in your bones. You shut your eyes, feeling the fading sun slowly take away the warmth on your skin. With another breath, you flipped backward through your journal.
August 10, 1935. 7:09 PM
August 9, 1935. 7:39 PM
August 8, 1935. 8:05 PM
You continued to flip through the pages until eventually, you found the last entry you wrote.
June 19, 1935. 7:56 PM
It’s Henry’s birthday today. It’s hard to believe how much time has passed. I finally went to Manhattan the other day and saw that Clara’s hair had turned gray, and Roy and Ella now have children of their own now. Their children run about happily, and yet I can’t help but think that Henry should have been there to see his grandchildren grow up.
I can only watch them from a distance. I know I promised Henry that I’d stay close to Roy and Ella, but how could I when I look the same age as them now? They would be horrified if they saw me, and I don’t want my niece and nephew to be scared of me. I know Henry said I should tell them one day, but I never will.
How cruel must the world have been to take him away when I could’ve saved him? Of all people, my baby brother. Why can’t I use this curse to help those I love? Henry should be here. Why must this world be so merciless?
When I saw Clara from afar, I saw it in her body. How she carries the weight of Henry’s absence every day. I could’ve saved her husband. Why didn’t the world let me?
Damn this world. I hate it all.
You slammed the journal closed and dropped to the grass, shoving the journal back into the glass jar before hiding it between the rocks again.
<><><>
For the first time in nearly two months, you found a reason to write more than just the time and date.
August 12, 1935. 7:36 PM
I managed to save a boy’s balloon today. He couldn’t have been more than 15 or 16. He had a balloon and a car rushed by him and the wind made him let go of it. It didn’t surprise me. He was small. If the breeze today was any stronger, he might’ve flown off with it.
The balloon got caught in the tree and he couldn’t reach for it. No one bothered to help him. Perhaps they expected him to man up and move on as if his sorrow over a lost thing was something foolish. Shame on them.
I went over and pulled it down for him. He thanked me, such a polite little thing, all blonde hair and blue eyes. He wasn’t ashamed for a second for letting a woman like me help him. He told me he was bringing the balloon home for his sick mother. What a good boy she raised. I wonder if my baby girl would’ve done the same for me, bringing me a balloon or pastries when I felt unwell.
Regardless, when I watched him leave, I felt wonderful.
You read through your entry one last time, wondering if there were any more details to add. With a soft smile, you closed your book but quickly paused, feeling a familiar sense of longing overcome you again. You hugged the journal, biting your lips while slowly lowering yourself onto the grass again. You stayed like that for a while, letting the sun slowly set.
It was nice to save something so simple.
<><><>
You were aching like hell, stumbling to your brother’s gravestone before falling to the ground. The grass soaked into your knees as you struggled to open the glass jar and release your journal. With trembling hands, you pulled out a pencil and flipped to the latest page, but you paused at your last entry.
August 15, 1935. 7:25 PM
You stared at it before shaking your head, quickly writing down the newest entry before you forgot any details.
September 16, 1935. 6:48 AM
I saved a boy on August 16, and I woke up feeling as if I were made of broken bones.
It feels as though people on the streets have been getting more reckless, driving around like they’re invincible. I was on my way here to write my next entry. I had stopped by the bakery first to get some eclairs.
On my way here, I saw a boy and his friend. I recognized his friend, it was the blonde boy who had the balloon. This boy, on the other hand, was taller with dark hair. He also looked older than his friend, like 18 or 19, or maybe his friend was so small that I thought he was younger than he actually was. They were walking away from the deli with a bag full of what I could only assume were snacks.
Then they went to cross the street and I felt the pull. I saw the car right then and there so I ran for him. I pushed him out of the way just in time. It hurt. It really hurt. I believe the car that hit me sped away.
I laid there while people screamed around me. The boys were next to me calling for help. The dark haired boy I saved was crying. He had frost blue eyes and asked me to stay awake, but I knew I wouldn’t.
My body was screaming when I woke up, and yet I found myself on my living room floor. The world didn’t even give me the decency to let me wake up in my bed this time.
With a long sigh, you shut the book and tilted your head back, feeling the wind on your skin. Within one month, the morning sun felt cooler, still warm enough to slowly make your skin sticky, but it was clear that autumn was approaching Brooklyn. You looked back down at the journal, suddenly feeling a rush of resentment toward it. Biting your lip, you quickly hid it in its usual spot before you made any regrettable decisions—you’d made a few of those before. You stood up again with a gasp, patting your dress down before walking off.
You had the same routine every time you returned to life: get a new identity and pretend your past self never existed. You used to move to a different home to avoid walking to the same streets, bumping into the same people, but recently stopped as it became too exhausting to relocate every few months. It was just easier to lie and act like those who recognized you were mistaking you for someone else.
The streets were never quiet, but they were emptier, as it was still early in the morning. You sped toward your workplace, knowing your best friend would’ve already arrived. You could see the Riverside Bookshop in the distance, carefully moving past strangers in case someone familiar was among them.
You walked right in with a huff of breath, the bell above the door ringing. Footsteps immediately caught your attention, and you looked up to see a woman in her fifties walking around one of the bookshelves. She went to speak, but she froze.
“Hi, Minnie,” you said, shifting in your stance. “Um, so…”
“You look awful.” Minnie sighed before shaking her head. “Welcome back.”
“Thanks,” you murmured while approaching her. “I’d say I’m sorry for skipping work, but you already know the drill.”
“You bet I do,” she replied, her eyes scanning you. “You need Lewis to fix you up with a new identity?”
You exhaled with relief in your voice. “I’d appreciate that. Sorry, though. I know it’s only been a few months since—”
She raised a hand to stop you. “Don’t give it a second thought. He won’t mind a bit. It’s a shame, though. Sherry was a nice name for you.”
You nodded in exhaustion, fidgeting with your fingers as you tried to shake off the weight of it all. Minnie was still staring at you, watching you quietly.
“I heard what happened,” she said, her eyes narrowing as she gauged your reaction.
You froze, your heart skipping a beat as you quickly turned to her. “What? How did you—”
“Ada from church told me.” Minnie picked up a stack of misplaced books. “It was inevitable someone would talk about it. The ‘lady who died in a car accident saving a boy,’ you know? It was all anyone was talking about for days.”
A cold shiver ran down your spine. Though you had gone through this process numerous times, it was often in a quieter place, with fewer bystanders to witness your less dramatic death. You stood up straighter as your heart pounded against your chest. “Was…was anyone who knew me there?” you asked, your voice trembling a little.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “None of my friends. All they’ve been calling you is ‘the lady.’ That’s it.”
You let out a deep breath that was restrained, the knot in your stomach loosening. “That’s…that’s good,” you muttered. “No one knows it was me.”
Minnie watched you for a moment before sighing softly. “I don’t know how you do it,” she said, putting one of the books back in its original place. “Die and come back for strangers. Every time.”
Your lips went ajar as you looked at the floorboards. You shrugged, the familiar weight of it all pressing down on you once more. “It’s just…how it is,” you quietly said. “I feel a pull, and I know whoever is in danger right then and there needs saving. It’s like something inside me is telling me to do it. I don’t have a choice.”
Minnie watched you for a moment, her lips pressed together as she let out a slow breath. You could see the sadness in her eyes, though she said nothing. As your childhood friend, she had been with you since you were given this curse, keeping your secret while she grew older. She knew this was how it was, as much as she hated it.
“Do you want to work today, or would you rather take a day off?” she asked, her voice soft but steady.
“I’d rather work,” you answered rather quickly. “I feel bad for leaving you alone for a month.”
“We’ve been through this before, and it’s okay.” Minnie grinned before glancing at your knees. “Maybe you want to go home and change, though. Your dress is stained.”
You blinked before glancing down at where the grass had left dirt and morning dew on your knees. Your cheeks turned red as you cleared your throat, “I’ll be back in an hour.”
“Take your time. You just came back.”
You nodded, but you hastily left the store and rushed home, desperate to get right back to organizing bookshelves and cleaning the windowsills.
Right. That was also part of your routine: live your life as if you didn’t die a horrible death a month ago.
<><><>
June 12, 1943. 7:19 PM
June 14, 1943. 9:22 AM
For the first time in a long while, I’m late to write in this journal, and it wasn’t because I died. I ended up going to a little gathering Minnie hosted last night and it was fun. Well, I guess everything is always fun when people don’t really know who you are, right? You can make up any story you want. It’s always a little strange pretending to be Minnie’s niece… But still, it was really nice to find some joy in these times.
It’s been scary. The war is getting crazier and they’re only dragging more people in. Minnie’s been upset over Robert getting dragged to war. I can’t blame her. She has every right to fear for the safety of her grandson. I’m just worried that she will have a heart attack like Lewis from this whole thing. I don’t want to lose her too. We can only hope that Robert comes back home safe and sound.
You paused, your hand suddenly trembling around your pencil. With a quiet, shaky breath, you finished the entry.
Sometimes, I wish I were on the battlefield next to Robert. Because maybe, if needed, I could save him like I should’ve with Henry.
Setting down the pencil, you shut the book and slid it into your bag under the front table. You swallowed the lump in your throat and forced yourself to stand up straight. It was hot and empty in the store, the kind of warmth that would annoy the average person, but you were used to it. You tugged on your collar, feeling the fabric peel from your skin, and you groaned.
Okay, maybe you weren’t used to it as much as you hoped.
“It's hot, isn’t it?”
You looked up at Laura, Minnie and Lewis’s daughter who had taken over Riverside Bookshop since Minnie retired. It was still crazy to you that you watched Laura grow up her entire life, and there she was now, physically older than you. “Yeah, it is.”
Laura chuckled, dusting off the tops of the shelves, “At least we don’t have to spend our day outside.”
You hummed, stepping around the front desk to help with tidying up the store. There was not much to do as they hadn’t had a lot of people come in lately, as the war waged on, but you couldn’t just stand around and do nothing. You wiped down the reading areas, removing the dust from the tables when you heard the bell above the door ring.
“Hello! Welcome in,” Laura greeted the customers with melody in her voice, as if her son wasn’t currently fighting for his life on the other side of the planet. “Let us know if you’re looking for anything in particular.”
You briefly peeked past the shelves to see a boy and a girl. The teenage, dark-haired girl looked around the store in awe while the dark-haired boy—or rather, a young man—in a military uniform watched her with a smile.
“Like I said, you can pick any book you want,” he told the girl, who snapped her head up at him.
“Really? Jimmy, is that alright?”
“Of course it is, Becca,” he laughed, gently nudging her shoulder. “Just don’t tell Annie and Betty. I don’t need them thinking I have a favorite sister.”
“Even though I am?” she teased.
“As long as you’re quiet about it.”
You couldn’t help but chuckle at their conversation. It made your heart warm to see siblings get along very well. You and your brother had been very close, with you starting as his protector and then switching roles once he grew taller and stronger than you. Lately, you had seen a lot of siblings argue and fight and refuse to talk to each other altogether. It made you want to scream; you wanted them to understand that their sibling was someone they could always trust to have their back.
So hearing those two giggle as they roamed around the store made your voice soft with your own giggles. You continued to tidy up the store, cleaning off dust from the lovely books and reorganizing any that were out of place. It was nice and calm in the room, and despite the heat, you felt yourself smiling like how your mother would when listening to you and Henry joke around.
Although you did sometimes forget that you were now around the same age as your mother when she passed away. An old lady in the body of a young woman, forever trapped in time.
“My brother is leaving tomorrow.”
You perked your head up, eavesdropping on the girl, Becca, speaking to Laura on your right. “He’s going to fight in the war tomorrow, so he wanted to get me a gift.”
Your smile vanished as you heard Laura speaking, immediately noticing the motherly terror in her voice at learning about the young man’s leave, “I see. That’s sweet of him to get you a gift. You like reading?”
“Honestly, I don’t read much, but my brother reads all the time and he used to share these stories with me. I guess I wanted to read more because of him.”
Her words soothed your heart, and you found yourself smiling again, only with sadness this time. Becca clearly admired her older brother, her voice tinted with sorrow while she put on a brave face for others. You softly sighed, gripping the book in your hand tightly before placing it back on the shelf.
Then, you began to hear someone walking closer on your left. You looked up to see the young man, Jimmy, approach you with a gentle smile, and you immediately grinned back without the sadness.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” he started, his warmth radiating off of him, “do you know where I can find—”
He froze, his smile immediately dropping as his eyes locked onto yours. You faltered briefly, perplexed by the loss of warmth in the young man, and—though you didn’t want to admit it—you were slightly intimidated by his gaze. As a horrified frown took over his lips, you took note of his frost-blue eyes.
…Wait.
No, it couldn't—
“Yes?” you quickly spoke, trying to mask the sudden intensity between the two of you. You forced out a lovely smile, though his expression continued to twist. “How can I help you?”
But the young man didn’t reply. He just continued to stare so deeply into your eyes that maybe they were hurting a bit. Or maybe it was because you were trying to keep your own emotions in check. To stop any tears from forming. This was ridiculous—you shouldn’t cry over this, but you couldn’t help but wonder if this was really the boy you—
“It’s you,” he suddenly breathed out, his voice too soft for anyone but you to hear.
You blinked, pretending to be confused when you knew exactly who you were looking at. “I’m sorry? I don’t follow.”
“You—” He suddenly stepped back as if he was staring at a ghost; to be fair, you could be one. His chest heaved and his lips began to quiver. “You saved me. It’s you. It’s—”
You raised both of your hands quickly, plastering more confusion into your face while the concern was real. “Whoa, sir. Are you alright? You don’t look so well.”
“Jimmy?” Becca walked over from behind you, holding a book with furrowed eyebrows. “Jimmy, what’s going on?”
But the young man didn’t respond to his sister. He could only keep his eyes on you, and you could only do the same. Laura joined you all while you took a breath and put on another smile, more gentle and warm than the last, though chills continuously went up your spine. “I’m sorry, I don’t quite follow what you’re saying…”
“I…” His hands lightly shook as his eyes shifted all around, taking in your face every possible way. Trying to digest the appearance of the woman who saved his life.
But she was dead. He learned later in the day at the hospital, where he had gone with his mother and his friend to thank the woman, that she had died. That her body had failed on her before she even made it to the hospital and was soon to get buried.
Her name was Sherry.
Upon hearing the news, the boy collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably as his mother tried to soothe him. He suddenly remembered the woman’s face so clearly—how the blood heavily coated her skin and light slowly faded from her eyes. It was his fault she died.
The boy’s friend stood frozen, unable to process the death of the woman, watching his friend crumble before he lost it too.
Because maybe they were a bit more careful, you’d be alive.
You bit the inside of your mouth as Becca reached for her brother's shoulder, gently shaking him. “Jimmy…?”
He suddenly blinked rapidly, realizing his stance, and shook his head. “I, uh—” he cleared his throat and smiled embarrassingly, “I’m sorry. I’m fine.”
Laura narrowed her eyes, clearly concerned for the young man. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Um, I’m sorry, ma’am.” He turned his attention back towards you, his gaze no longer intense but now just heavy. “I didn’t mean to scare you out. I… You just look like someone I knew.”
Your stomach coiled. Suddenly, you felt so sick.
Although you couldn’t see her directly, you felt Laura’s eyes on you, realizing what the young man meant by his words. You forced a smile once again, acting like you weren’t dying on the inside. “It’s alright. I’m…I’m sorry that I’m not who you were expecting.”
He shook his head. “It’s not your fault. It’s just… The person you remind me of is very important to me. But that’s no excuse for scaring you. I’m sorry.”
He smiled at you again, but your chest only tightened by the hurt in his eyes. He desperately wished you were the one who saved him all those years ago—the one who pushed him out of the way and died in his stead—the one who he deemed to be very important in his life.
But you were. You really were. But you bit back your words and returned the grin. “It’s alright. It happens.”
He nodded, though the hesitation was evident. He turned to his sister and gestured to the book. “Is that the one?”
Becca, still eyeing him down with furrowed eyebrows, slowly nodded. “Yeah. Jimmy, are you sure you’re alright?”
“I’m alright.” He nudged her shoulder playfully before taking her book.
Laura gestured to the desk behind her. “I can take care of that for you at the front.”
Jimmy and Becca followed her to the front desk, their footsteps soft against the worn wooden floor. You lingered behind, drifting toward a nearby shelf and running your fingers along the spines of books. In reality, you were only putting distance between yourself and the young man, as if that could settle the unease curling in your stomach.
Still, even without looking, you could feel him glancing at you. A flicker of attention. A hesitation. A longing.
To force a sense of normalcy, you lifted your head and met his eyes with a polite, easy smile. Nothing too stiff, nothing too strained—just enough to make it seem like everything was fine. He faltered, his fingers curling around the book tighter while his lips pressed into a thin line. Then he exhaled and gave you a small, apologetic smile in return.
He was sorry, but for what? For your lies?
The siblings took their purchase and made their way toward the door—Jimmy didn’t dare to look at you again. The bell jingled as they stepped out, but the second they were gone, you spun toward the front desk. Laura stepped back with a quiet breath, watching you yank your journal from your bag and quickly flip through the pages.
“Auntie?” she said, trying to calm you down, but you couldn’t.
You couldn’t because you knew. You knew. But still, you just had to check. You had to make sure it was really—
The dark haired boy I saved was crying. He had frost blue eyes and asked me to stay awake, but I knew I wouldn’t.
The journal fell from your grasp as you stumbled back into the chair, tripping over it and tumbling to the floor. Clutching at your chest, you bit your lip as you tried to control your unsteady breathing. Laura swiftly kneeled next to you, holding onto your shoulders as she whispered.
“Hey, it’s alright. Auntie, it’s alright.” She glanced at your journal as if it carried some terrible omen. “Do you need a second?”
“I…” You inhaled sharply before letting out a slow breath. “I think I need a bit of water.”
“Alright, I can get that.” Laura stood up, uneasy about leaving you but still hurrying off to fetch a drink.
You just sat there. Staring at your journal.
At one point, Laura did come back and give you water. Let you hide behind the front desk on the floor, pretending you weren't in the room when other customers would stop by and wouldn’t see you. You sat there with the journal in your hands for a while, quiet in your whirling thoughts as the need to write crawled up your skin.
Soon, you found a pencil.
June 14, 1943. 10:47 AM
I lied. Not everything is as fun as it seems when no one knows who you are. How do you tell someone — someone who thinks you're dead — that you're so glad they lived?
I saved that boy so long ago and he recognized me. That never happened before — no one remembers me.
His frost blue eyes are as vibrant as before and I think he's roughly the same age as Robert now. How amazing is that? That he got to grow up that much? And he has a sister—I think he has a couple of them. He seems like such a sweet boy, buying his sister a book just to make her happy. He looked so happy doing it too.
I overheard that the boy young man is leaving tomorrow.
Why? Why would they let him do this? They can’t. I saved him once, but now he’s off to a place where I know I can’t reach him.
Why would the world let me save him just to let him die young?
That girl is going to lose her brother just like how I lost mine.
This isn’t fair. None of this is fair. I just want it to end.
NEXT CHAPTER >
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Thanks for reading :)
r, 25, a collection of fics I enjoyed - 18+ I follow from @spookysaturn
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