PLEASE, WAKE ME UP.

PLEASE, WAKE ME UP.

WORD COUNT: 1300

SUMMARY:  Tony has a nightmare.

WARNINGS: none

AUTHOR: Killer raccoon

It was the quietest morning there'd been in months, save the dull croak of the piano and the moaning of the floorboards beneath the pianists tapping foot.

Tony stood behind the rows of white chairs, stiff and unmoving, hands clasped tightly behind his back. Across the quickly filling room, Bucky noticed him and attempted a smile, but immediately his lips began to quiver and he turned down to look at his feet before Tony could try to return the gesture. 

Bucky, the only one in this room who fully understood Tony's presence here, the only man who knew what had been going on behind closed doors. Because Steve had insisted he know, had told Tony that if he couldn't trust Bucky, then what were they even doing?

Tony watched Sam slide in next to Bucky, place a hand on the man's shoulder and sit him down, and then Tony was alone again. Something he hadn't felt in years.

The more people filed into the room, the more sullen the mood became. Natasha sat on the other side of Bucky, and Clint next to her, and Tony's throat tightened in anguish as even Nick Fury, accompanied by Phil and Maria, made their way down the rows of chairs. It didn't matter if nobody had the time for a full blown ceremony: they made time. 

Sam had pulled him aside a few days ago to assure him that he'd be welcomed with open arms, but Tony had his doubts, and therefore kept his distance. He was somewhere deep in his own head anyway. He didn't even notice Pepper next to him, brows furrowed as she tapped furiously at her phone, or Rhodey, dressed up in his navy blue suit, hands also clasped behind his back, but in respect rather than anxiety. Tony knew he should have been one of the men carrying in the... but of course he chose to stand next to Tony, and in some lost part of his conscious mind, Tony appreciated that. 

But when the music slowed and died and what was left of the hushed conversations among the room was cut off, Tony was sure his heart stopped. He was able to keep himself composed, lips pursed and face blank, all of his muscles tensed to keep from shaking. However, when the first two soldiers stepped into the room, shoulders straight and hats in their hands, and Tony knew what would be following them, he fucking lost it. His breathing shortened, his head swayed dizzily, and before he knew it, he was busting through the side door into the empty hallways, straight towards the wall to keep him right side up. He pressed his forehead against the cool, brick walls, gasping for air. Luckily he was in the back, so he hardly disturbed anyone. 

But of course, one man had noticed. One man had dashed out after him, was now placing a hand on Tony's shoulder, gentle, but firm.

"Breathe." 

Both hands were on him when he wouldn't calm down, and he knew that they learned this in the military, he understood, but with the steadiness of his voice, with the serum, Bucky sounded and felt too much like Steve, all those restless, summer nights when Tony was kept up and he had been there for him, and it made everything worse. He couldn't get air into his lungs, his eyes spun in and out of focus, and he trembled violently beneath the other man's grasp. And who the hell was Tony to Steve, to be comforted by the dead man's best friend. It was absolutely unfair to Bucky, and Tony felt sick with guilt and selfishness. He turned around, gently pushing Bucky away from him.

"I'm sorry," He wheezed, and Bucky was shaking his head like Tony had no reason to apologize, but he absolutely did. 

Within the next few seconds, Rhodey was in the halls, pushing Bucky to the side to get to Tony.

"Thank you, Buck, but I can handle this." He said.

"I don't think you understand" Bucky protested.

"The hell, I don't understand." Rhodey snapped. "I know Tony better than he knows himself. I'm not stupid, and I'm not blind." He looked up to Bucky then, and his face softened apologetically. 

"Please, you are the last person who should have to do this. Go pay your respects to Steve. I'll take care of him." He said. Bucky nodded silently and turned to leave. 

By then, Tony was catching his breath, letting a warmth flood through him and calm his nerves, though his hands still shook hard. 

"You knew?" He asked quietly, and Rhodey, despite everything else, managed a smile. 

"You thought you could keep a secret like that from me? I mean, honestly, Tony." 

Tony huffed, just then realizing how foolish it was to actually believe that he had kept the relationship between he and Steve from Rhodey. 

"He's gone," he breathed suddenly, clasping a hand over his mouth in awe at what had just escaped, a electric shock shooting through him as the words rang true, and then Rhodey was pulling him into a hug, burying Tony's face into his shoulder. Tony clenched his teeth, refusing to cry, but breathed heavily through his nose, gasps shuddering through his body as he held it all in, and Rhodey became the only thing holding Tony in one piece. 

Steve was gone okay, and did Tony ever fully appreciate when he was around? Did he take the time to let him know that? Looking back, he knew it had always been a frantic, desperate rush of fumbling fingers and clothes strewn across the floor. Tony always thought they'd have time to take their time. 

Did he even ever tell Steve that he loved him? That he was doubtlessly, unconditionally in love with him?

Did he even know at the time? 

Tony shut his eyes tight, held on to Rhodey tighter in horror as his knees buckles. He could feel his heart wasn't going to hold together, could feel the world around him crumbling, and when he managed to open his eyes...

 There was darkness. Tony blinked once, twice, realized he was on his back. His hair, shirt, and the mattress beneath him were all soaked in sweat. Tony shot up, the force causing an immediate headache, and searched the room as his eyes adjusted to the dark. His heart was pounding hard in his chest, fear in his throat as he chanced a glace at the weight he felt against his hip. He sucked in a breath.

"Steve?" He croaked. There was a small, groggy yawn and then two large, muscled arms that peaked through the covers, revealing a half asleep, but definite Steve Rogers as he stretched, shifted to turn around, and put an arm around Tony's waste, pulling him back down and against his own body heat. Tony's sigh of relief came out as a choked sob, and he pressed his nose into Steve's chest in an attempt to muffle his sudden sounds. However, that startled Steve completely out of sleep.

"Tony? He tried to sit up, pulling Tony away from him and brushing his damp hair out of his face. "Tony, are you okay?" He was pouting at him as Tony quickly regained control of his emotions. 

"No, I'm not okay. I love you." 

Steve stared at him, confused in his half dream state, cheeks flushed with the heat of the summer night, hair sticking up in a way that warmed Tony's heart. 

And then he was kissing him, the slowest kiss they'd ever had, and Steve kissed his cheek, his jaw, his neck, his shoulder. Tony felt dizzy as Steve took his hand and pressed his lips gently to his wrist, the palm of his hand.

"I love you too." 

Chasing the Shadow || Part III || Ending

Summary: After all scary events your life may become calm. Words: 1973 Warnings: none Author: Cass

You could see this. Sun rising on the sky, slowly changing black night into a bright day. Through small window you could see how they were preparing everything, one sight at the gallows made your stomach hurt. Just the imagine of you… hanging there made you sick. Your stomach hurt, your heart was beating faster, you had problems with catching a proper breath, your mind was one big mess.

“What will happen with me later?” “What my parents will say?” “This is the end..” “I don’t wanna die.” All those thoughts, they were loud like a war drum in your head.

You sat on the floor and pulled your legs to your chest, trying to calm yourself down.

“It’s okay… He is gonna come. He would never leave me. He loves me…” You kept repeating those words to calm down your mind.

And you were right. He was gonna come, but he had to plan everything. Ezio didn’t plan to kill whole prison to get you out. He wanted show everyone, that you are assassin’s property that no one can touch or hurt. They had to know that you were under their protection.

He wanted to prove you that you don’t need to be scared. His plan was simple. Assassins kill guards and he kill your executioner and get you, than make sure you will be safe.

You felt cold shivers going through your body when door to your cell hes been opened. Two guards smiled rudely at you. They grabbed your arm and dragged you out of cell. You tried your best to release yourself from their strong grips, you tried to kick and jerk but nothing helped, they were too strong for you.

They took you to the same place from last time… dark cell, few candles and the same old, wooden chair, stained with blood of others that had the “pleasure” to visit this place. You looked around when guards threw you onto this chair.

Then you saw him, he was a commandant of this place. He send you the same smile as guards before.

“Soo, I see you again… Listen, I’m sure you know what fate waits on you outside, so better talk now and I will change my decision”

“No! I will never betray my assassins! NEVER!”

Man only shook his head and slowly put on leather glows. You good knew what this meant…

Man smiled at you rising his hand. “Than suffer for your assassins, slut!” He said and hit you in the face.

The wave of pain moved through your body, even when range of pain was your cheek that become red and swollen from the force of impact. You felt tears in your eyes but you stayed as brave as you could, you saved assassin’s lifes not once. You were brave for them because you knew they will pay all their debts.

Hit, hit, hit another hit, hit after hit was aimed into your already aching face.

“Where are they! Where?! No one will come to safe you.”

Man growled and sighed heavily. He looked at you, all he saw was pathetic, beaten up woman.

“Take her, we will see each other later.” He said and looked away. Guards dragged you back to cell and closed door behind you.

You sighed and again looked outside, you saw how people started to gather up around the gallows. You felt like something squeeze your throat… was it again an imagine of you hanging there.

You felt like with every minute you were closer to your end. What if this man was right, what if they left you, what if this was really your end.

One thing made your heart stop… you saw them… older woman and man… You recognized them, your parents. Two the most important people in your life, people who gave you everything. You felt even worst.

You put your hand between bars and whimpered.

“Mamma! Papà!”

Somehow your mom looked into your direction, she quickly pulled her husband by hand and ran to your window.

“Dio mio! My child…”

She took your bruised hand and put it on her cheek.

“What have you done…”

“Is it true?! You really helped those assassins?!” Your father growled. “How could you? This is such a shame for us! For whole family!”

“Stop it! Looked at her.” Your mother yelled at him.

You looked at them both, with tears in eyes.

“I really… I didn’t… I wanted to…  I had to… please forgive me.”

“There is no forgiveness for you.” Man said. “You deserve the same fate like every assassin.” He said and walked away.

Woman looked at you.

“Is it about him, about this man?” She asked looking at tears on your cheeks.

You only nodded feeling how words got stuck in your throat. “Yes… He is one of them, I was helping them.  Sorry Madre, I love him.”

Woman smiled sadly and put hand between bars to stroke your cheek. “Mother always forgive, I love you my child.” She kissed your hand and slowly walked away.

You felt terrible, you just slide onto floor and started cry, you felt like you really changed.

They came for you, again two guards, they brought black cape for you. One of man put it around your shoulders and put hood on your head. They pushed you out of cell, but you didn’t break. You tried to keep some self pride. You walked, like a lady, listening to all screams, you didn’t pay attention to stuff that were threw into your direction.

You walked onto platform and listened how judge was reading your judgments. “Do you have anything to say before your die?” man asked.

You took deep breath.

“I did nothing wrong! I helped people that really needed this. People which we all need!” You yelled only to meet angry screams from people.

You looked at all of them, you saw your parents somewhere in the crowd. You mother was crying when your father stayed still.

Then you felt thick rope that executioner put onto your throat, he even didn't take off hood from your head.

Suddenly there were some moves in crowd, white hoods! Your heart started beating faster, not from fear but happiness, now you felt safe. You watched how few guards disappeared and were replaced with assassins in guard’s uniforms. One of them winked at you when small knife threw from crowd, weakened rope.

“[Y/N] [Y/L/N], I sentence you to death!” judge yelled.

Your executioner pulled the lever.

The hole under you opened up but you just fell down because rope wasn’t now strong enough to hold your weight. You looked out from the hole to see Ezio quickly killing judge and executioner.

People watched everything terrified.

“People of Rome!”

He yelled and helped you get out from hole. “This woman is under my protection. You touch her - you’re gonna have to fight with me!” He yelled. “I wanna you all to know that. No matter who you are, normal citizen or a soldier. You can’t touch her!”

After that Ezio got onto his horse and helped you got there too. “Let’s go home” He said quietly.  

Ezio jumped off of his horse and took you into his arms.

“What they have done to you?” He said and opened door to his hideout. There were few assassins, they all looked at you and with smile on their faces.

You could saw and feel how happy they were that they saw you again, you heard so many nice words from them. Your man only smiled at you.

“Let’s go take care of you.”

It took him few hours to fully wash your body and properly take care of you, every touch made you shiver.

Ezio gently touched your cheek “You are safe now. No one is gonna touch you ever again.” He said and kissed you softly. You only whimpered happily and kissed him back. Now you really felt safe like never before.

It took you two months to return to your condition. This two months some showed you how much you did for brotherhood, Sometimes you were walking next to Ezio but sometimes not. No matter of that you always could see ready breakfast, it wasn’t always perfect but you could see that assassins tried their best, they were always offering their help, they were bringing  you flowers, they were making shopping for you. Assassins were coming to you only to check if you feel okay and to make sure you aren’t sick or hungry. It was so sweet from their side. Now you knew what you were for them.

But still the most important from them was your man, Ezio tried be with you as often as possible. You loved to lie down to sleep next to him and in the same way to wake up. He always made sure you fell okay and that all your injuries healed properly, he made sure you feel safe.

After few days you walked to Ezio and nuzzled to him.

“What are you doing?” You asked quietly.

He smiled and pulled you onto his laps.

“Just planning… I try to find something about Zaccheo [Y/L/N]” Ezio said and stroked your hair. “He is a Templar.”

You blinked and looked at him shocked. “Zaccheo [Y/L/N]…?”

Ezio only nodded. “Something’s wrong?”

“He… He is my father..” You said “But… But he can’t… I mean… God, it would explain his… his behavior two months ago… He was oddly happy that they will hang me…”

Ezio looked at you confused.

“What are you talking about..?”

“My parents found me right before execution. My father… He said that they should hang me because I worked with assassins.” You said. “But he… I would… I never thought that he may be a templar.”

“[Y/N]…” Ezio started, “I’m sorry but… I need to take care of him. He is dangerous… For all of us…” He said and touched your cheek gently. “I’m really sorry…”  

Ezio spend whole night, calming you down but finally you started undstood. That this really needed to happen. You agreed and you did this because you decided to stay with assassins.

You watched how Ezio was leaving hideout to do “his mission”, you knew he was going to get your father. You were scared even when he promised he won’t touch your mother. You trusted him.

You didn’t sleep that night, you waited only to see him and to hear that he did this. When he returned, he looked weird.

“What happened.” You asked.

Ezio looked at you.

“Hey, So… It’s over, Just your father… He Said ‘I’m not afraid of death. I could see why The Order is important. You, assassins pull good people onto bad way. My daughter is a good example of it.’ I never..” Ezio Shivered ” I… i never thought about that in such way.”

You walked to him.

“Ezio… you all did nothing. I joined because I wanted to, no one forced me to anything.” You said and looked at him.

He smiled sadly and hugged you tightly.

“I love you… I will always protect you but… now I want you to pack some stuff. We are leaving Rome tomorrow’s morning. Don’t ask where we are going… you will see.” He said and kissed you.

You returned the kiss and nodded.

At morning you both were ready. Your horse followed Ezio’s horse. You had no idea where are you were going, but you honestly wanted to leave the city. Your direction was unknown but  you were with your man and everything bad stayed in Rome. You felt good with this.

Since this day your life got crazy as hell but finally after long time everything become normal. Ezio took off his hood on forever and you became his wife.

Life finally become calm.

A walking disasters

WORD COUNT:  1098

SUMMARY: Steve and Bucky talk about feelings and stuff while the Avengers have a water fight.

WARNINGS: none

AUTHOR: Killer raccoon

"Won't your fella get jealous?" Bucky asked suddenly, whip sharp grin placed firmly on his face, looking so familiar Steve ached. It was scary how easy it was for Bucky to look like Bucky again, like the Winter Soldier, like the plane crash, like the 21st fucking century didn't happen. Steve should've liked it, he knew, but he didn't.

Steve rolled his eyes. "Tony gets jealous when strangers on the street propose. It doesn't bother him when I spar with Natasha or when I run with Sam. This, us, doesn't bother him at all."

"You've got a good thing going here don't you," Bucky huffed, eyes closed and head tipped back against the wall. Steve shifted grappling for any sort of comfortable position on the rock hard couch. Tony had warned him that all the furniture in this room was designed to make people look regal, not make them comfortable. It was the only room in the mansion left untouched from Tony's childhood.

"Yeah, I do" Steve looked at Bucky from where he was sitting side ways against the arm of the couch, "better with you here though."

"You know I'm never going to be just Bucky Barnes right?"

"I know you haven't been talking to your therapist."

"And who's bright fucking idea was that? A therapist? Really? You think after decades of being the most talented killer alive - and shut the fuck up Steve, I killed people, we both know I killed people - you really think I'd just be fucking dandy with spilling all my secrets to some idiot with a clipboard and orders to take me out when I get aggressive?"

"I know you won't ever just be Bucky again, I know you're Bucky Barnes, Winter Soldier, but you're still my friend. You're still my fucking family," Steve burst out suddenly. "Please tell me you know that."

It was deathly quiet in the room before Bucky spoke again, out of the corner of his mouth, like he was too tired to talk properly, "Nathasa's stronger than people give her credit for. So's Tony."

"People give her a lot of credit. And you know she hates it when you call her that," Steve said mildly, not commenting on the remark.

Bucky grinned his shark smile again. "No, she doesn't. And don't think I didn't notice you ignoring what I said about him."

Steve sighed, felt the air come up from his diaphragm, filling his lungs and his mouth. "I'm just glad you stopped calling him Stark. Why?"

"Why what…"

"Bucky," Steve ground out.

"They make living with blood on your ledger look easy," Bucky breathed out suddenly. Steve paused, stomach in his throat when Bucky turned to him again, suddenly vicious. "You won't tell them this, ya hear? Last thing I need is more fucking pity."

"Of course I won't tell. I'm surprised you're even talking to me right now. But we both know they would be the last people to pity you. They know what you're going through."

"You're saying you don't?" A challenge.

"I've killed people-"

"You've killed Nazis," Bucky said with a bark of a laugh. "Nazis don't count as people." Steve could at least agree with that.

"You know, I miss being the stubborn one in this friendship."

"I'm not talking to them. It's a different situation entirely."

"I thought you said they knew what it felt.."

"Never like this. Never like me. Fucking Tony didn't even know what was happening with his company, how does that compare to this?" He turned to Steve, desperate, "I trained Natasha, trained her to be a murderer. What does that say about me?"

"It says something about the Winter Soldier. It says that you were brainwashed."

"I killed his parents, did he tell you that? Blew up their car, slit his mother’s throat while she was screaming. Stabbed his father for good measure. And if you tell me that's okay, if you make excuses for me, I'll fucking deck you."

"I don't need to tell you that it was wrong. You think I don't know you're thinking of running away again? The guilt eats away at you. The Winter Soldier didn't know what guilt was because he was fucking brainwashed. You were tortured Bucky."

"I killed so many innocent people."

"You killed people. Innocent people and we both know you can't make up for that. There isn't anything you could possibly do. That's not how it works." Steve was so tired of this, tired of how complicated this was, tired of morality and honor and redemption. "You do good and you wait until there's enough good to not make the bad crawl under your skin like palladium," Steve quoted. Tony was strangely poetic at the 3 in the morning, all ruffled hair and tight breaths. "I just want you to be happy. Don't we deserve that? After all the second chances we've been given, don't we at least deserve that?"

Silence again. Steve stared out the window opposite him, Bucky's silhouette barely blocking the view. Everything here really was excessive, slightly more so than even by Tony's usual standards. He wondered idly how he could go about sketching the exact way the light snagged on the leaves of the topiaries in the garden outside.

"I'm not going back to that therapist." Steve waited him out, could taste the capitulation on his tongue. "But we could do this more often. Just. Talking."

"Yeah?"

"How many more times do you need me to say it?" Bucky grinned suddenly. "Age catching up to you, Rogers?"

"Screw off Bucky," Steve laughed, shoving him roughly. "I'm really, really happy that you want to talk to me," he couldn't resist adding.

Bucky made a face, "How does Tony stand all this earnestness?"

Steve smirked, "You really want to know?"

"Oh fuck no, never mind. Still can't believe how filthy you are now, Christ."

"The army does a number on scrawny virgins."

"It also does a number on beefed up super soldiers." Bucky shot him another look, that 'I know you' look that gave Steve dizzying hope.

Steve looked out the window again, at their teammates, their friends, running past, equipped to the teeth with various water shooting weapons. Bucky followed his line of sight and chuckled suddenly. "Tell me how I got roped into living with a bunch of 9 year olds."

"Hey! I'm at least 12," he said, moving to get up. "How bout we go and show them how it's really done?" he asked, smirking.

"As long as you and Tony keep your hands to yourself."

"No promises."

Chasing the shadow || Part I

Summary: You're Ezio's friend. You meet him for the first time since many years. Words: 1407 Warnings: none  Author: Cass

[Y/F/C] - You favourite color  [Y/H/L] - Your hair length [Y/H/C] - Your hair color [Y/N] - Your name [Y/L/N] - Your last name 

You were living in Rome for a long time now, your parents moved out from Florence when you were 10 years old only. You left everything behind, your whole life, every good person and every friend, including your childhood friend named Ezio.

For a long time you were sending letters to him and he was writing back to you. One day everything has just stopped. You never heard anything from Ezio again and it was sad, it ripped your heart apart. You were close with him,  he was your best friend even if your parents didn’t like him.

You good remembered, how you both were running around streets of Florence, simply enjoying your time of youth, making troubles not once or twice.

You still could remember how sad he was when your parents were living the town with you by their side.

The only thing that has left you was a necklace, that Ezio and his mother had given you before you left Florence for good.

You sighed loudly playing with the jewellery, watching how beautiful Rome was. All those people, beautiful places, shops... It was your home now, a place where you were feeling safe.

Now you were living alone, your parents bought you house in a good district. They made sure, that you had everything that you needed and they were regularly paying you visits, which were a bit annoying for you. You were an adult woman now.

One day you decided to go and make small shopping for the evening. You put on your favorite long, [Y/F/C] dress, than slowly brushed your [Y/H/L], [Y/H/C] hair and looked  at your reflection in the mirror. You looked like a real aristocrat, you only smiled at yourself and quickly grabbed your basket and some of the money.

The weather was nice and the city was calm, like really calm. Guards were walking thought streets, bards were playing happy songs on their instruments (two bards even got some money from you). And finally you found your shops.

Shopping went rather quick, you good knew what you had wanted to buy and how much you had wanted to buy. It never was a problem for you.

During your way back home someone ran into you. It was a man, dressed in white raiment with a hood on. He quickly grabbed your elbow before you fell on the ground. “Mi dispiace veramente, signora”. Man only said, he made sure you are standing still and he continued his runaway.

“Imbecille!” you yelled after him and in the same moment you saw group of guards, they were following the stranger.

You spend whole day sitting on the balcony, thinking about your accidental meeting with the man n the street. You still could see him in your thoughts. He looked like someone strong, someone in hurry, but he remained polite, he probably was dangerous. The hood, guards...

You only shook you head trying to get rid of those thoughts, because suddenly you heard a weird noises  form… Somewhere… You couldn’t really tell, from where they came, but then suddenly you saw the man from the town, but he didn’t look as good as then.

His white raiment was stained with blood, probably his own, he was tired and you could tell this basing on his breath and heavy gasps, that you both could hear. Probably guards got him earlier...

“Where is he?! He for sure went that way!” You could hear guards screams. You looked at weak man and pulled him inside your house, he was even too weak to protest. You quickly closed balcony doors.

“What you did?” You muttered as you laid man on your own bed.

You sat on bed and thought what you can do, then you decided to try to use the knowledge that you had from your friend, who was a doctor.

“I’m sorry, but I have to take it off… At least upper part of your clothes..” You said and slowly tried to take off his hood, but immediately he grabbed both of your hands. “Calm down, no matter who you are, my mouth are silent. I promise.” You said, looking at him. Man only nodded and let you remove his hood off. And you had to say, that he was handsome… Really handsome. You smiled at him softly and started to take care of his wounds. Sometimes he let out a hiss or a quiet moan, but it was all. For most of time he remained silent, being rude enough to look into your cleavage, when he was thinking you weren’t paying attention.

After an hour you sighed softly, than got up from bed. Man slowly sat up. “Grazie, signora.” ”Sei benvenuto, signore. It was nice to help you, but I think you should rest a bit and I’m more than sure you won’t be able to run tonight.” You smiled at man.

He smiled back softly. “I think you are right, signora. May I ask you a question?” You nodded slowly. “Of course, yes?” “Your necklace… Where did you get it?” He asked, watching you carefully. “It’s a gift from a friend.. I got it before I left my home town..” You only said and shrugged, taking necklace into your hand. “Goofing around streets of Florence? Getting into troubles? Spending whole days having fun?” Man asked, smiling at you. “Yes but how… You… Ezio… Ezio Auditore..?” You asked, you were deeply shocked, your eyes were wide and you had no idea, what was exactly happening now.

“One and only… [Y/N]  [Y/L/N]! My beloved friend!” Not paying attention to the pain, he simply got up from bed and took you into his arms, hugging you tight as he only could.

You laughed happily and almost started cry from happiness, right now you realised, how much you were missing him. You sighed and nuzzled to him.

“I missed you so much… I… I’m sorry… Few years after you left, so many things had happened in my life… That… I just lost my contact with you.” He said, still holding you tight in his arms.

You nodded. “It’s okay.” You took his hand and looked at him with tears in your eyes and with a big smile on your face. “We have whole night for each others.” Ezio stroked your cheek and nodded. “You are right.”

Both of you spent whole night at talking. He told you about terrible things that happen to his family and about what he had to do and who he had became. You told him, what was happening with you after you left Florence. You felt sorry for him, so many bad stuff happened to the man, but you were proud of him at the same time.

At morning Ezio put on his raiment and looked at you. “It was nice to see you again. I hope… We won’t lose contact this time…” You giggled and shook your head. “As long as you will find time for me in your busy life.” “Will you patch me up sometimes? It’s better than going to medics… I don’t need to pay.” He shrugged. You only laughed loudly. “Ezio, this house is big as you can see… And I live here alone. I can promise you that… You and your assassins will always find a help and shelter here, I will always be ready to take care of their wounds, give then place to proper rest and feed them with homemade dishes. It will be pleasure for me to help you.” “[Y/N]… I don’t know what to say… Grazie.” He hugged you. “You know… There is one thing that I wanted to do for so long… I wanted to do this before you left, but… We were too young.” You blinked. “But… What do you…”

You were cut off by a kiss, deep and strong one. When man broke the kiss ,you looked at him in shock. Ezio put on his hood and smiled at you briefly. “We will meet later, wait here at me. If something will happen, you know, where my sister and mother are. They will give a shelter to you. See you, bella.” He simply left your house, jumping out of the window.

You watched him for a bit and then you walked back to your bedroom. “Ezio Auditore… You’ve changed so much.” You whispered quietly under your breath, gently touching the necklace on your decolletage.

Believer || Part I

Words: 1910

Warnings: none at all

SUMMARY: MCU Crossover With Tomb Raider 2013

Request by: Anonymous

Author: Rouge

“Come here, boys! We have fresh meat over here!”

The man had appeared out of the foliage with barely a rustle of his announcement. His clothing was weather worn and threadbare, a suggestion of a harsh life. He could see stains of questionable and queasy origins spattered here and there, dark like ink but not with the same texture, not at all. His hair was dark and greasy, his scratchy beard thick. The leer in his eyes and the crooked smirk weren’t welcoming either. He had a gun. Bucky recognized it simply because he had grown accustomed to their sight over the many years.

He was alarmed when he began to pick out more bodies emerging into sight from the darkness of the forest, some up high on overhanging precipices; several were in trees, and the rest on the ground, flanking the first man. Some had rifles. Others, pistols. He even noticed, oddly enough, some were armed with bows and arrows.

All were aimed at him.

“If this is your welcoming committee, then I shudder to think about the reception of guests you fail to successfully entertain. This is rather poor in taste, if you ask me.”

The first man, the leader of the ragtag bunch, scowled and spat out a curse at him. It took Bucky a moment to realize he had spoken Russian, the dialect heavy as the syllables growled over one another. It took him another to realize what the man had said.

“Fucking smart ass. I’ve shot men for less insult.”

He jerked the gun in his hand, pointing a vague direction for Bucky to move. Bucky didn’t. Instead, he addressed the man in his apparent native tongue. “Where are you taking me?”

The Russian was unimpressed at being addressed in his mother tongue, even if he did give pause.

“Move!”

The weapon’s hammer was cocked back for emphasis, a loud and unsettling click that cleaved the very air with its sound. He startled when one of the men suddenly pitched forward with barely a grunt and hiss of air issuing from his mouth. He fell forward, his weapon—a rifle—clattering to the forest floor with a loud clatter, tangling in the undergrowth. An arrow protruded from the Bucky man’s backside.

The Russian barked at his men, stirring them into action and they scrambled into organized chaos. The Russian turned on him, the barrel of the gun reestablished on him. He hissed away, stalking forward to close the gap between him and Bucky.

“She’s come for you, boy,” he growled, a dark light sparking in his eyes. “I’ll kill you before she gets a chance to even see your face.”

The gut punch had the taller man doubling over, wheezing heavily at the strike. Bucky wasn’t aiming to kill or maim the man, simply disarm him and relocate. The Russian’s grip on his gun hadn’t broken, but he was too busy catching his breath to notice. He never got the chance to, either.

Another arrow whizzed out from the dark and struck the Russian’s neck, punching through from back to front, an arrowhead sprouting out of his throat. The gun fell from abruptly limp fingers, and then the Russian followed suite with a strangled gurgle. Bucky stumbled back, in horror and shock. The light in the Russian’s eyes went out and he wheezed his last breath, blood bubbling from the oozing wound as he collapsed on his face.

The forest fell silent and it was in that moment he realized all the men that had appeared from nowhere were dead.

All of them.

An unsettling silence had Bucky over the forest, and the shadows around him seemed to grow darker, longer, reaching for him. The hairs on the back of his neck rose up and stood at attention while an icy shudder snaked its way down his spine.

His metal arm reached his vest's pocket and pulled out a handy knife. The dark blade was gleaming in what little light the moon above provided. The familiar weight of a tactic vest settled around his shoulders, providing a comforting sense of security and protection as it did.

He felt eyes on him, but how many and from where, he wasn’t too sure. He just knew that whoever killed the men, they were still here. Bucky didn’t have long to wait. He whirled at the first sign of movement, but he stopped short of himself in surprise at what he faced.

It was a slip of a young woman, much smaller than he was. She was dressed sensibly enough to move fast and not allow herself to be caught up by snagged clothing. It was all form fitting without being too tight on her, she had grey tight cargo pants, a striped shirt which probably was white in the past, pair of a hiking boots. There was a bulk to her build and Bucky saw why. The silhouette of knives strapped at her sides, a rifle on a sling over her shoulder, a quiver of arrows belted at her hip, and a bow held casually in one hand, a pistol in the other. She cleared the area with the pistol, watching for any unwanted movement before holstering it at her back when she deemed it safe.

She had beautiful, big brown eyes and smooth skin. Bucky noticed a little bruise at her cheek. Her little nose was adding kind of a charm to her figure. She slowly rised her brow, glaring at him.

The woman ventured closer, her posture still tense but it had relaxed greatly in comparison to the few steps she had taken when she arrived. She was showing she wasn’t an enemy by holstering her weapons, but she would still ready at the drop of a hat to jump into action if things went south. He could sense all of that just by the way she held herself.

She slowly reached to sling the bow on a holster on her back, leaving her hands open and free. Her eyes never left him.

“These men would have killed you if I hadn’t intervened. The Solarii aren’t known for their kindness and mercy. Negotiating with them is impossible when they’ve been trained to kill without hesitation. Especially if it looks like you’re going to fight back.” She started in way of greeting. The woman tilted her head to the side. “Surprised they delayed so long in shooting you. Good thing they did. Gave me time to get here.”

He was still tongue-tied at the suddenness of the events that had transcended within the span of a few sparse minutes.

She turned, motioning for him to follow.

He trailed after her with uncertainty in his steps. “Wait... wait! Where am I? Who are these Solarii? And what’s your name?”

The woman craned her head to peer over her shoulder at him. Her gaze was steady and even, unfaltering as she studied him. They passed through the undergrowth for several minutes in silence before she answered him.

“You’re on an island called Yamatai. It’s in the Dragon’s Triangle, west of Japan. The Solarii are…shipwreck survivors. They’re a band of murderers that have laid claim to the island, killing or recruiting any men who wash up on shore. They burn any women they come across.”

A sour taste coated the back of his throat and his stomach turned uneasily at that. He didn’t remember how he’d gotten here, and he wondered if he was alone.

I think I am, but…no. Please don’t let the others be here.Steve. Sam. Natasha.

“Have…have there been any others…?” He couldn’t finish. The woman seemed to take that as a cue.

“Like you? No. You’re the only one I’ve come across, dressed as you are.”

There was little relief in her answer. It only meant he was the first, and that the others might very well be here.

The woman unclipped something from her belt and waggled the item. It was an oval-shaped device, black and ringed with perhaps a white or yellow stripe. A thin tube stuck out from its top.

“The Solarii get riled up when others are spotted on the island. No doubt they’ve already gotten on the horn and started bleating like the mindless sheep they are to others on their radios about you.” She continued as they began climbing up a small incline. The trees were thinning, and there was a path up ahead, and it looked like there was an old bridge they could cross. “You’re the only one right now. If there were others, I would have heard about them on this.”

He didn’t feel very reassured, even with that statement. A thought occurred to him.

“You never told me your name.”

They came across the bridge. It might have once been painted a pleasing, imperial crimson red, but time had taken its toll on it. Still, it was intact and spanned over the length of a small pond. The night critters had begun their hushed chorus and he had barely noticed until then.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“But then, what do I call you? My name’s James Barnes, but more often I'm called Bucky.”

When she walked, she was quiet. She moved with the purpose to be as quiet as possible. He sought to do the same, in case they ran into any more of those Solarii men. He didn’t fancy having another dozen guns pointed at his person, thank you very much.

“Lara. Lara Croft.”

He stopped halfway across the bridge, startled.

“There’s a way off?”

She paused at the end of the bridge and turned a little to view him more properly. “Yes. There’s a boat. I’ll have to fix it, but I need to take care of a few things first.”

“Anything I can help with?”

“No. I mean..” She hesitated. “Not by now at least.  have a safe place where you can stay” she offered, shrugging slightly.

She eyed him a little more critically, her mouth pulling into a shrewd, thin line. “Trained fighter or not, I’m not risking a stray bullet hitting you in the head.” Lara crossed her arms at her chest, rolling her eyes. “Besides.” She took a look at his metal hand. “It shoulkd be useful to defend yourself. But you were just standing there, like a child lost in the mist” a sad smile crawled at her rosy lips as she was speaking.

Lara gave a small nod and turned, motioning him to keep following.

“I can help” he pressed insistently. “Please. At least lemme help with something. You saved me.”

“No, you can’t by now.” She said it in such a matter-of-fact tone, it grated on his nerves. He started after her, silence be damned if it meant catching up.

“And how do you know? You don’t know me, or what I can or can’t do. I can do quite a lot. I killed a lot of people..” Bucky growled loudly, streatching his metal fingers.

She glanced at him as he dropped back, his steps faltering until he stopped. “If you could kill, then you would have done so back there. Those men would have been dead before I met up with you. That’s how I know you can’t do what I need to be done by now to get us out of here. It’s kill or be killed on this island. But for now,” she looked around, sighng, “let's get to the hideout. It's gonna rain.”

Andrea By @withoutashadowofhope

withoutashadowofhope: My version of Andrea

Omg!!!!! I love it!!! I love it soo much! she is cute!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥ ~Cass