This was supposed to be a whole sexy dom/sub thing. Instead it became incredibly sweet hair-washing and non-sexual submission during Bucky’s recovery. It’s verysoft.
830 words. PG-13 for heart-eyed but relatively innocent descriptions of the naked female body, because the author is gay.
Title from Baby Blue Sedan, by Modest Mouse, which is a staple of my Bucky playlist.
According to Steve, Bucky’s hard to read these days. He says it’s like Bucky put on a mask and isn’t sure how to take it off any more.
“If you were tortured and wiped any time you showed an emotion, you’d have trouble unmasking too, pal,” Bucky grumbled, and immediately regretted it.
He is trying to be a human again, and sometimes it’s exhausting. There are so many choices to make. Everything is different from what he remembers.
Natalia is different, but… not exactly. When he met her, she was young and sharp-edged and spiky, but there was a softness in her: in her eyes, in her mouth, in the way she occasionally shot him the ghost of a smile. She was a little girl who was trying not to be human.
The Nat he falls in love with is a woman. She’s even more deadly, but she’s softer on the surface; she wears her softness like it’s something to be proud of, and she’s very, very human.
Everyone else seems to think Bucky’s unreadable, but Nat understands. Maybe it’s because she had to learn, too; she’s been in his shoes. Maybe she’s just good like that. But she always knows what he needs, even before Bucky knows how to ask for it.
When free will starts to feel more like a burden than a blessing, he shows up at her door. She invites him in and tells him what to do.
It’s not sexual, at first. Sometimes she just has him kneel next to her favorite armchair, tells him to rest his head on her thigh, tells him to breathe in time with her. Sometimes she strokes his hair while she reads. One evening she reads out loud to him, keeping her low velvety voice quiet, a soothing blanket of sound, and he falls asleep like that; it’s the best he’s slept in weeks.
The lines blur, gradually. Sometimes he comes to her on the good days, the best days, when his skin feels like it fits just right and he laughs without having to think about how laughter works.
One night, she answers the door in a towel. Her hair is piled in a messy knot on top of her head, little flame-red tendrils of it framing her steam-flushed face, and her bare feet leave damp patches on the carpet as she leads him inside.
Her bathroom isn’t irritatingly modern like the one in the suite Bucky shares with Steve; she must’ve asked Tony to remodel it specially. It’s got a massive old claw-foot tub, currently filled with bubbles, and there are plants hanging from the walls, vines draping everywhere.
Tonight, the room is lit only by candles, maybe two dozen of them, tealights that flicker and dance. They’re wildly impractical, as a light source. Bucky can see why she likes them.
She warns him before she unwraps the towel, but she says, “You can look, if you want. I don’t mind.”
It’s the first time she’s given him any sort of choice, on one of these nights. He chooses to look.
She hangs up her towel and turns to him, holding his gaze for a moment with her chin held high, before she takes a few small, graceful steps to the tub.
He sees scars of all shapes and sizes, from the faint ripple of stretch marks on her hips to the scar he left, the shiny distortion of it against the pale smooth skin of her abdomen.
He forgot how beautifully women are put together. The lines of her body flow, curve, and rise again, like art. Tiny drops of water trickle in the dip between her breasts, sparkling like a diamond necklace.
He forgot how the skin moves. There’s so much life in her: her arms prickle with goosebumps and her little pink nipples pebble, and when she takes a step, the impact of it shows in the softest parts of her, a little jiggle like waves on a still pond.
He sees immense strength, of course, but he sees softness too. She looks so incredibly soft.
She slides under the surface of the bubbles.
Bucky hasn’t wanted to look at anyone like that in a long time; he almost forgot what it feels like to want to touch. She looks up at him like she understands, big eyes shining in the candlelight.
“I’d like you to help me wash my hair,” she says quietly, with a twist of her lips — a tiny, private smile, not the one she wears for the world.
So that’s what he does. He kneels at the end of the tub, brushes her hair slowly, washes it with all the gentleness he can manage, scooping up water to help her rinse. It’s good practice, being gentle like this.
There are so many tiny things about being human that he loves, like candles and sandalwood-scented conditioner and desire and scars. One day he’ll get the hang of it again.
SUMMARY: After Wanda announces her engagement a familiar face returns into your life.
“(Y/n)!”
You heard the familiar chime of the doorbell and the familiar excited voice of your friend fill the relatively empty store. You whipped your head to her just in time to see her barrelling toward you and captured you in a bone crushing hug.
“Whoa there Wands,” You said as you returned the hug, “did something happen or are you just that happy to see me?”
Wanda quickly released you from her vice grip, “oh nothing much happened,” Wanda paused before holding up her left hand, “except this.” On her left hand on her ring finger sat a beautiful vintage ring.
“Oh my god!” You exclaim smiling as you grab her hand to get a closer look at the ring, it was simple in design but it really suited Wanda. ‘When did this happen?!”
“Last night,” Wanda reveals happily her smile never deterring, “Vis and I were watching reruns of the Dick Van Dyke Show, I told him how Mary’s ring was beautiful and next thing I know he asks ‘is it as beautiful as this ring’ next thing I know he’s down on one knee with the ring in his hand asking me to marry him.”
“I’m so happy for you and Vis.” You congrat Wanda as you and her continue to talk about her engagement for a few more minutes.
“Actually Vis and I were planning on going to the city tonight to celebrate, are you busy?” Wanda asks. You take a quick look at your calendar finding nothing but closing the store on the agenda for tonight.
“Nope,” You respond, “just have to close the store.”
“Close early and Vis and I will pick you up,” Wanda said, “We’re bringing Pietro, Steve, Bucky, and Monica with us.”
You hesitate for a bit, but you take one look into Wanda’s pleading eyes, the same eyes that have gotten you into more than your fair share of trouble since highschool, next thing you know you’re nodding your head in agreement.
Wanda lets out a small squeal before enveloping you once again in a small hug before saying goodbye and that Pietro will pick you up by seven.
As you continue about your day, stacking books and working the register you start to wonder when the last time you actually had a date was.
During the slow rush you decide to check your calendar again. You flip through each page until finally you land three months prior where you had plans to meet up with the local coffee barista at some bar you can’t remember the name of. What you do remember is that the date ended with you buying a half quart of ice cream and watching reruns of Gilmore Girls.
You check the clock and check the store to find it empty. You decide now would probably be a good time to close and to start getting ready for the night in the city with Wanda and the rest.
You turn the sign on the door to ‘closed’ and push all thoughts of dating to the back of your mind.
—
You had just slipped your shoes on when you heard Pietro knock on your door in the familiar pattern he’s done since high-school.
You answer the door to reveal Pietro. You always thought he had looked handsome in that mischievous way. But when he wears that white button up and slacks with his hair gelled back he is a special type of handsome.
“Well damn don’t we look fancy tonight?” You say as Pietro noticeably checks you out in the same appreciation. You did a small turn in your black dress that fell just mid thigh.
“And you don’t look too bad yourself Princeza,” Pietro said as he offered his arm in an overdramatic gentlemanly style. Which you responded in kind, laughing slightly as you made sure to lock the door behind you before finally heading out.
—
You were back in your parents backyard, sitting in that hammock with a book in your hands. Nancy Drew had wormed her way into eleven year old you’s heart, with all of her adventures and detective skills.
Just as you were about to reach the climax of the book you heard a familiar voice.
“Whatcha reading today?” You look away from the book and spot a familiar blue haired girl the same age. She was the neighbor that moved in about three years ago, Natasha, who quickly became your best friend.
“Nancy Drew,”
“Again?”
“There’s more than one Natty.” You responded, next thing you know the book is lifted from your hands and Natasha is hovering over you with the book in her hands.
“Naaat.” You whine as you try to reach for the book only to have her expertly move it away from you.
“C’mon,” Natasha says as she makes her way to the bushes separating your yard and hers, “adventure awaits.”
You struggle a little as you make your way out of your hammock and through the lush bushes to Natasha who slips through the crack in between.
“Nat,” you warn lightly.
“I promise I’ll give you the book back,” Natasha promises, “but first we go on an adventure! Grab your bike and meet me out front!”
“Where exactly is this adventure?”
“Just grab your bike, chatty cathy!”
You hear her footsteps rush over to her bike as you rush to yours.
By the time you let your parents know you’ll be riding your bike and get to the front of your house Natasha is already waiting for you.
Together you both rode your bikes until finally settling on a clearing near the local park. There was this big oak tree and in front of it a huge rock as well covered in green moss.
For a while both you and Natasha played by either climbing on the rock and proclaiming yourselves rulers of the land, climbing the tree, playing pretend in the most kid way possible.
However you would catch glimpses sometimes, you didn’t know what, but it made you worry for her. Like how sad she looked, or scared.
Finally, after being worn out by playing you both lay on the grass beneath you and watch as the fireflies began to dance around the big oak looking like thousands of moving stars.
You were enjoying the bit of peace and silence when you felt her hand hold yours. You look over and see the blue haired girl still staring at the millions of fireflies with a smile on her lips.
“Thank you for being my best friend.” She said gently as you looked away from her and continued watching the fireflies dance, until the sun finally set and it was time to go home.
She never did give that book back.
—
“Princeza, we’re here.” You hear the familiar accented voice say. You slowly open your groggy eyes to see the glittering lights of the city.
“How long was I out?”
“An hour.”
“So the whole car ride,” You say, you could see Pietro nod from the driver’s side, “I’m sorry.”
“What for?”
“I was asleep the whole car ride, you were probably bored.”
“No, I wasn’t bored,” Pietro said, “I know you haven’t been sleeping much because of the store.”
Here it comes.
“You need to start working less Princeza,” Pietro continued concerned, “you spend all your waking hours at the store, tending to your books, and life is going to pass you by.”
“Pietro-”
“I don’t mean to be harsh or rude,” Pietro quickly added, “it’s just I see you all the time at the store and nowhere else lately. I get that the store is demanding, but just try to make some time for yourself. Promise me?”
You look at him and can’t refuse.
“I promise.”
You can start relaxing tonight.
—
You came to quickly realize that clubbing really wasn’t your thing.
A pile of random sweaty bodies ground on each other on the dance floor to music that hurt your eardrums.
It wasn’t that you were judging anyone for liking this atmosphere, it just wasn’t your cup of tea, you preferred to stay on the sidelines and watch your friends dance.
And the full bar proved that you weren’t the only one.
You had looked away for a second to order a beer when you spotted someone familiar.
It was dark save for the flickering lights that illuminated her every once in a while. You couldn’t place where you knew her but you knew that you knew her. It was in the way she walked with a certain grace and her eyes were sharp enough to cut through you and you imagined her tongue was the same way.
She must have noticed you staring because the next thing you know she’s staring right at you. Your eyes lock and that’s when it hits you.
You didn’t recognize her without her blue hair.
Natasha.
You panic and turn back to the bar to order that beer you were going to order about five minutes ago. You mentally beat yourself up, if you didn’t look like a creep before you definitely did now.
You were so busy mentally assaulting yourself that you didn’t notice the redhead sauntering her way to you and sit on the empty barstool next to you.
“Well if it isn’t Nancy Drew.”
You turn your head and see Natasha there beside you. Her hair was shoulder length and no longer blue. Now her hair was it’s natural elegant red color, her blue eyes sharper than you remember as well as her cheekbones. You noticed hints of tattoos peeking out from the collar and sleeve of her leather coat.
“You never did return that book.”
You both couldn’t help the laugh that erupted. Even though it’s been years somehow it almost feels like no time has passed.
Almost.
“So what’ve you been up to?” Natasha asked, “still into books?”
“Uh yeah,” You confirm, “I actually own a bookshop back home.”
You see Natasha smile from ear to ear before taking a sip of what was your beer now it seems to be adopted by Natasha.
“That’s so you,” Natasha said before taking another sip from the beer bottle.
“Well what about you?” You ask, “what have you been up to?”
You could see the hesitancy in Natasha’s face, just as she was about to answer, however you see a light brown haired male come up beside her.
“Hey Nat, I hate to interrupt but we got a Budapest situation over here.” Natasha swerved her attention to where he pointed at the blonde who was obviously drunk off her ass putting a six foot tall man into a choke hold. Which you had to admire and be impressed at.
“I guess that’s my cue Nancy Drew,” Natasha said as she took one last sip from the beer bottle before abandoning it. As she was making her way through the crowd but before she got too far you saw her turn around.
“What was the name of your bookstore again, Nancy Drew?!” She yelled over the crowd.
“Oh-um- Summertime Stories!” You call out, you catch a glimpse of something in her eyes before it disappears.
While fighting Hydra agents, a strange phenomenon causes Hulk and Black Widow to swap genitals! Seems Hulk won’t be the only one doing the smashing from now on!
This body part swap (genital swap) was the winner of our second January poll. Want to help by deciding the next one? Cast your vote in the next poll over on Patreon.
When Marinette joined Alya and Nino for a weekend at the beach, the last thing she expected was to be lost at sea, or to be rescued by a very handsome merman.
When Adrien volunteered to swim a remote patrol, the last thing he expected was to meet his soulmate… or for her to be human.
Mermaid + Soulmate AU. Ongoing, coming back to this one cuz they started updating again. Adrien and Marinette confirm themselves as soulmates very quickly and he goes to live with her BUT the author has stated the intent for this to be a slow burn romance so I’m pretty interested in seeing where this winds up going.
Tony’s pretty sure it’s written into cosmic law somewhere: superheroes are not supposed be cute.
Apparently, no one’s told these two.
He’s okay with that.
Yeah, coming back around to this one again, gotta love crossover stories that treat all the series with respect. Also outsider pov, when done well, is one of my favorite things.
I love Nat, and I’ve cosplayed every other original Avenger, and a few others, so it was time for my first genderbend cosplay on Black Widow movie day! What do you think? It’s a bit of a work in progress , photos and edits by me
