In from the cold - Part 2

Mar. 2nd, 2023 02:22 pm
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He started to tell the little girl not to tell the man he was in there with her but two things stopped him. First was the look of terror that crossed the child's face, and second, was the appearance of the voice's owner at the door. He was a big, burly man with a shaved head, tattoos all over his face, and a looped belt grasped tightly in one of his meaty hands. He didn't see Bucky at first when he entered as he stalked straight towards Annie, raising the belt over his head.

"Girl, when I tell you to do something, you better do it!" he snarled, bringing the belt down towards Annie.

Annie threw up her hands to shield herself, shrieking and cowering away from him.

But the belt never lands its target, as Bucky stepped forward, and seized it with his metal hand. Tommy, he presumed, looked at him with a shocked look on his ugly face. When he opened his mouth to snarl at Bucky, it was then Bucky smelled reek of alcohol on the man's breath.

The man's eyes blazed as he asked, "Who the h—"

Bucky cut him off by cold cocking him, and as Tommy fell unceremoniously to the floor, he turned to check on Annie. "Are you okay?" The little girl stared at him, stunned by what he'd done. He knelt in front of her, and tried to get her to hear him. "Annie, doll, are you okay?"

Annie blinked, and looked at her mother's boyfriend's crumpled form. "Did you kill him, mister?"

He shook his head, "No, I didn't kill him. He's just knocked out right now."

"I wish you would've killed him, mister."

What a horrible thing to hear such a sweet looking little girl say! "Why would you wish for something like that?"

"'Cause when Tommy wakes up, he'll be super mad, and he'll... he'll..."

Bucky didn't need for her to finish her sentence, and he shushed her. It' had been such a long time since he'd touched another person with such gentleness, but he was gentle as he could be when he pulled the child into what he hoped was a comforting embrace.

"He's not going to hurt you again. I promise you that he's not going to hurt you again. Now, do you have school today?"

Annie nodded. "Uh huh... and he'll be waiting for me when I get back home today too!"

Bucky guided her towards the barn's door. "Then you go on, go to school, and by the time you get back home, Tommy won't be taking any of this out on you."

"What are you gonna do, Mister?"

Truth was, he didn't know yet what he was going to do about Tommy, but he wouldn't fail the little girl either. "You don't worry about it. Just go to school."

***
Bucky kept his word to Annie.

When Tommy woke up, he wasn't happy to find himself all tied up by the Winter Soldier, but he was even less thrilled to be questioned by him. Still, Bucky got him to tell him the whole situation. As it turned out, Annie's mom Laurie was a nurse who worked sixteen hour shifts at a time, and wasn't home often while her daughter was still awake. Since they had no family close by, and Laurie had no friends she could depend on to watch out for Annie, she'd asked Tommy to move in with them. In return for taking care of Annie, Tommy had room and board as well as free access to Laurie's bank account.

Yep, the lowlife was even living off of the woman whose daughter he was supposed to be caring for, not abusing. When Bucky learned all of this, he grabbed the man's throat with his metal hand, and told him in no uncertain terms that he would be leaving that day with nothing but the clothes on his back.

"But what about my stuff?" Tommy asked in an outraged tone.

"Consider it repayment for all the free things you've wrongfully taken from Annie and her Mom. Now, hit the road, pal, and do not ever come back!"

Tommy started to protest but one hard, cool look from Bucky silenced him, and he started down the road leading from the farm house. Bucky watched him until he disappeared, and he made a note to make sure the guy had actually left before he left himself. Speaking of leaving, he knew he shouldn't leave until he had a chance to talk to Laurie.

She'll probably call the police on me, he thought, But that's a chance I'll have to take. He just needed to be sure that Annie was there when he did it, so she could back up all the claims of abuse against Tommy. He hoped that when she heard it all, she wouldn't be angry with Annie but with Tommy, and would then try to work something better out for her daughter.
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Want to build a snowman?

Mar. 3rd, 2023 10:54 am
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Sigyn woke up early one winter morning to find that the world outside her window was covered in a thick layer of snow. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stretched, feeling the cold air nip at her skin. She knew that her father Loki would already be up, likely causing mischief somewhere as was his wont.

As she dressed warmly and headed out into the snow, Sigyn spotted her father in the distance, sitting on a large rock by a frozen lake. She approached him with a little trepidation as she knew her father, was unpredictable even at the best of times.

"Happy morning to you, Father. What are you doing?" she asked.

"Happy morning to you as well. Why I'm enjoying the morning, my dear," Loki replied, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "It's a perfect day for a bit of fun, don't you think?"

Sigyn sighed, knowing that when her father talked about fun, it usually meant trouble. But she also felt excited at the prospect of spending time with him. He rose up, and started walking deeper into the forest. She followed him as he led her deeper into the snowy woods. Soon they arrived at a natural hot spring that was steaming in the frigid air. Sigyn gasped as she had had no idea that it was even there before now!

"Let's take a dip, my dear," Loki said, grinning wickedly as he removed his cloak and tunic so that he was left only in his pants.

"But it's cold out here, Father!" she exclaimed, at the idea.

"Come, my dear Sigyn. I promise it will warm you up in no time," her father said, his hand extended towards her.

Sigyn hesitated, but the allure of the hot water was too strong to resist. She took off her cloak, and laid it down beside his. She removed her dress, and left her shift on. Taking her father's hand, she slipped into the pool, feeling the warmth seep into her bones. For the next few moments, she closed her eyes, and relaxed, forgetting about the world outside of these woods simply enjoying the sensation of the hot water against her skin.

"Father," she began after they'd both soaked in the glorious warm for awhile.

"Hmm?" was his only response.

"Father...Father..."

Loki opened his eyes, and looked at his daughter. "Yes, my little snowflake? Do you want to ask me something?"

Sigyn nodded.

"What is it then? You know you may ask me anything."

She nodded again, and swallowed. "Father, did you ever... bring my Mother here to this place?" Immediately pain cast a shadow across her father's bright eyes, and he nodded. Bringing up her mother, Eva, was always a difficult subject for her father, for his beloved Eva had died while bringing her into the world.

"Yes, my dear, I did. Your Mother loved this place so much. It was one of her favorite places to come when winter came," said her father, looking lost in his memories.

Sigyn wished she could have known her mother for the countless time since she had become old enough to realize she was without her. Oh without any question, she loved her father, and both sets of her grandparents. But after watching other girls her age with their mothers, she knew she was missing out on having someone who could never be replaced.

"Well, the hour grows late, Come, my little snowflake, it is time for us to return home."

Although she knew they had not been in the hot springs as long as her father claimed, Sigyn did not argue. Instead, she allowed him to aid her out of the water, and back into her warm attire. He wrapped his own cloak around her, as well as his arm, and together they started back home.
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Love in a Winter Wonderland

Mar. 2nd, 2023 02:21 pm
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Eva has always been like her father in so many ways, and so like him, she has never been a morning person. But when she opened her eyes to see the snow falling outside her window, it was enough to make her get out of bed earlier than she originally felt like. After she wrapped herself in a thick robe, she then headed to the kitchen to make herself some nice, hot mocha coconut coffee. With her mug in hand, she stood at the kitchen window staring out the window at the winter wonderland outside lost in her thoughts until she heard a knock on her door.

"Who in the world?" she muttered, as she walked to the door.

Eva checked her door camera first, and she couldn't believe who it was she was seeing standing on the other side of her door. She felt her heart pounding as she reached out, and opened the door. "Loki! Oh my gosh!" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck. "What are you doing here?"

He was obviously stunned for a moment as he neither moved nor spoke, but then he lifted his arms to hug her back. He murmured in her ear, "Why I came to see you," he replied, "Of course."

The hug lasted for another few seconds then Eva pulled away, and gestured towards the interior of her home. "Please come inside!" He nodded, and stepped into her house, his eyes scanning the room.

As she followed him inside, and offered to take his long grey coat from him, Eva couldn't help but feel a little flustered. She and Loki had been friends for years, but lately in the last few years, there was always an underlying tension between them that she couldn't quite explain. "Do you want some coffee? It's mocha coconut!" she asked, motioning to the Keurig.

Loki nodded, and Eva made him a cup, savoring the warmth of the mug in her hands. They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, watching the snow fall outside.

Finally, even he must not have been able to take the tension in the room as Loki broke the quiet to ask her. "Do you want to go for a walk?"

Eva hesitated. It was freezing outside, but something in the way he asked made her say yes. They bundled up in their coats and hats and stepped outside into the snow.

As they walked, they talked about everything and nothing, the snow crunching under their feet. Eva felt her cheeks grow warm, and not just from the cold. She couldn't help but feel drawn to Loki, despite the fact that they had always just been friends.

Eventually, they found themselves at a park that was close to her house, and Loki led Eva to a secluded spot. "I have something for you," he said, pulling a small box out of his pocket.

Eva's heart began to race as she opened the box. Inside, she found a beautiful necklace, the pendant shaped like a heart. "Loki, it's gorgeous," she breathed, feeling her face grow hot.

Loki smiled, taking the necklace from her and fastening it around her neck. "It's not as beautiful as you," he said, his eyes locking deep into hers.

At that moment, Eva was finding it hard to breathe. She had never seen that look in his eyes before. She realized in that moment that what she had been feeling all these years was mutual. As she watched, Loki started to lean towards her, and before she knew it, his lips were pressing against hers. Eva immediately deepened the kiss, and cupped his face with her gloved hands. Suddenly, Eva found herself almost face down on the bench when Loki pulled away, and sprang up, walking away from her at a fast pace.

Eva was stunned for a second, and then sprang up to hurry after him, catching up to him quickly. "Loki, is something wrong?"

He didn't slow his pace, and he nodded. "Yes, I've ruined
everything!"

"Ruined everything how?" Eva asked in a breathless tone as his fast pace was starting to get to her, even as fit as she was. "Loki?"

Loki stopped suddenly, and without facing her answered her. "I-I shouldn't have kissed you!"

"Why shouldn't you have kissed me?"

He sighed, his head dropping. "Because you see me as only a friend, nothing more or less. For me to kiss you, that is a betrayal of our friendship, as I am trying to turn it into something it is not. I'm sorry, Eva. It will not happen again." With that said, he started walking again, this time at a much slower pace.

Eva shook her head, and went after him. She walked beside him in silence, trying to figure out how to word what she wanted to say to him.

"If you wish to return the necklace, I will understand, as it was a presumptuous gift on my part," he said, sounding utterly defeated.

"Oh for crying out loud, would you just stop being an idiot already?!" she exclaimed.

Loki stopped walking once more, and looked at her. "I beg your pardon. What did you say?"

"I said would you stop being an idiot already?!"

"I am not being an idiot!"

"Yes, you are!"

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes, you are, or you wouldn't have ended one of the most epic kisses ever until we were both out of breath!"

Puzzlement crossed Loki's features. "'Most epic kisses ever'? Am I to understand that you are telling me that you were enjoying my kissing you?"

Eva took a step closer to him. "Yes, you big dolt! That is exactly what I am telling you! Believe me, if I hadn't been, mythical god of mischief and chaos or not, I would have knocked you out cold with the right cross my Dad and all of my Uncles helped me to develop, and left your butt there on that bench to wake up on your own!"

"You would have?" Loki said.

"Yes, I would! Loki, I... I love you!" she exclaimed.

His eyes widened, and then he closed the gap between them. "You what?"

"I said, I love you!" Eva muttered, dropping her head. "I have for a long time, I think." She bit her lip, hoping now she wasn't the one to destroy everything between them.

He placed a gentle hand underneath her chin, and lifted her face up. "Eva Stark Anthonysdottir, I love you too."

"You do?" she asked in a whisper.

Loki nodded. "Eva, there are so many things I love about you. I love the way you see the world. You have this unique perspective that I can't help but find so fascinating. Ever since we met, you have challenged me in ways that no one else ever has. You've made me see the universe in a new light. You make me want to be a better person."

As she stared into his eyes, Eva felt her knees going weak. She knew without any doubt that Loki is the one she loves without every part of her heart. She knew with all that she is, he is her soulmate, and they will be together forever. With this knowledge and certainty, she is the one who initiated their second kiss.

For a long time, they stood there, kissing in the snow, with the hot intensity of their passion keeping them warm. As they finally parted, Eva couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected, snowy morning that had brought them together.

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In from the cold - Part 1

Feb. 27th, 2023 10:09 pm
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Bucky Barnes, formerly the Winter Soldier (or at least he is trying to formerly become the Winter Soldier) woke up early on a cold winter morning, his senses on alert as he scanned his surroundings. He was in the barn of a remote cabin in the mountains, surrounded by snow and silence. The cabin was occupied with a small family, so he had spent the night in the barn, not wanting to alarm those inside of the house.

He had been on the run for months, trying to escape the memories of his past as a deadly assassin. But now, in this peaceful wilderness, he felt like he could finally breathe.

He got up and he was preparing to leave the barn behind, knowing he needed to get started as soon as possible of he were going to put miles between this place and his next destination before nightfall.

When he opened the barn door, and peeked outside, he found himself wishing for a hot cup of coffee. Huh, he mused, that was a strange reaction upon seeing his own breath rising up before him. He'd not had a thought like that in decades!

Seventy years to be exact, Barnes!

Bucky shook his head, and cleared his thoughts. He returned to the inside of the barn to retrieve his backpack carrying his meager possessions, and was stopped by a voice at the door.

"Hello," said the voice.

He immediately turned around, taking a defensive stance, and was surprised by who he saw standing there: a girl about eight years old is standing at the door. The way she's dressed is warm but not for someone who is going to be out in the cold for long, and there's a bucket hanging from one of her hands.

"I said, hello."

Bucky tried to make himself relax, although he couldn't do it fully. Not with everything HYDRA had done to his mind and body over the 70 plus years they used him as the Winter Soldier. Maybe he would never be able to relax fully, who knows.

"Can you talk, mister?" the girl asked, her face contorted with worry.

"Of course, I can," he replied, gruffly but not as gruffly as he could have. "Who are you?"

"My name is Annie, and I'm supposed to be milking our cow right now." As if on cue, the cow mooed, and turned her head to look at them both, munching on hay. Annie pointed to the bovine, and told him, "That's Penny."

Bucky nodded his head, "Hello."

"Mister, why are you in our barn?"

"I'm a friend of your Dad's."

"You mean Tommy? He's not my Dad. He's Mommy's boyfriend who stays with us."

"Oh."

"You don't know him do you?"

Bucky almost lied, and told Annie that of course he knows her mom's boyfriend, but there's something about the way she is looking at him that keep him from doing it He finally shook his head, and muttered, "No, no, I don't know him. Or your mom either."

"Then why are you in our barn?" Annie asked, innocently.

"Because I needed a place to—"

"Annie, what is taking you so long in getting that cow milked?" a hard, male voice asked from the outside.

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The stuff dreams are made of

Feb. 10th, 2023 11:49 am
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Fantasia.

It is more than just being "The stuff dreams are made of.", far more. 

Or this is what Bastian Balthazar Bux decides as he sits beside his mother, his mother, gazing down at the Valley of the Dragonspines. She's been in his dreams for so long, and Bastian had longed to be with his mother again for what felt like an eternity, that for the longest time after he'd makes his wish, he could not bring himself to look at her.

*Her* hands reaches out, and clasps his. She feels so real, so warm that Bastian finds himself fighting back tears.

"Bastian—" her much missed, and melodious voice begins, "My sweet boy, what is it? What's wrong?"

Bastian feels her free hand carding through his hair, and he closes his eyes.

Gosh, how he's missed this so much! 

For all his efforts at trying to understand, his Dad had never ever understood Bastian the way his mother had. No, Amaris Amelia Alexander Bux had done everything she could to encourage, as well as, nurture her son's love of the fantastical. When she died, Bastian's world shattered and his loss was immeasurable because no one, no one would or could understand Bastian like his mother.

*No one*. 

Bastian looks at his mother, "Nothing's wrong, Mom. I'm just so happy to see you that's all and... and..."

"And what, sweetheart?"

"I don't want this to ever. I want to stay here forever. I want to stay in Fantasia forever."

"Then you can, Bastian. You don't ever have to leave," she said, wrapping an arm around him.

Bastian let her pull him close, and turns to watch the sunset.
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