20 -- she/HE/they I art :3
261 posts
Summary: You didn’t have any superpowers, nor were you even qualified for the position, yet somehow a mishap between Alexei and Yelena ends up in getting you a new job. Bob-sitter.
Contents: No Y/N, fem!reader, college student!reader, no warnings apply for this chapter.
A/N: A multipart series?? From me?? who would've thought. We'll have to see where this goes and whether I'll keep it up lmao. Let me know what you think!
Read it on AO3 Chapter 2
1.9K words
“You said babysitter, I get a babysitter, problem solved!” Alexei exclaimed. The girl pinched the skin between her eyebrows, taking a few breaths before turning back to Alexei.
“I didn’t mean an actual babysitter! I meant a trained professional! Or at least someone with a background check.”
This had been going on for about 5 minutes, ever since you’d arrived at the penthouse of the rebranded Avenger’s Tower.
“Look, there’s clearly been a misunderstanding here. I can just, you know, leave,” you shrugged to the elevator, slowly picking your bag back up to leave.
“No, no! You don’t leave. Just wait here,” Alexei insisted. You put your bag back on the floor, unsure of what to do next.
You should’ve known as soon as the man contacted you through the Sitters NYC app that it was a bust. Who even has kids that need sitting in a place like this? You could still go back to Mrs. Lowinski, go back to cat-sitting the woman’s 17 Sphynx cats. But the lingering cat smell… Not to mention the fact that naked cats get their skin oils everywhere... No— this was a safe bet.
The duo argued some more before the girl, Lena?, turned to you with a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure you’re very nice and that my father offered you good money, but we had a bit of miscommunication about how to solve a problem. I’m really sorry.”
“It’s okay, really. Thanks for the generous offer, anyway, Alexei,” you thanked the man with a thin smile, once again picking up your damn bag and heading for the elevator.
Alexei yelled after you again to wait, but it was clear the man wouldn’t get his way, unfortunately for you. You gave him a sad wave and pressed the button for the elevator. As the doors opened, someone was about to step out when you were about to step inside. You did the awkward side-shuffle to get out of each other's way before he laughed and let you go first. You turned to stand facing the doors and caught a last glimpse of the man’s unruly brown hair before they closed.
✶
“Who was that?” Bob asked as the doors closed.
“Your babysitter, if it was up to Alexei. We’re trying to find a reliable person who can stay here with you when we go out on missions, but Alexei took it upon himself to get an actual babysitter. For kids. Or cats. Or birds, apparently,” Yelena sighed.
“You ask for trained professional with background check. We don’t even pass background check!” Alexei shouted. He did have a point, there.
Bob was about to argue he didn’t need a babysitter, but he probably actually did. He couldn’t be left alone with his thoughts for too long, or he’d spiral real fast. Not good.
“I mean, besides the company I really don’t think I need someone with much experience or training,” he shrugged.
“See! Bob agrees. Sitter is sitter,” Alexei grumbled.
“We’ll talk about this over dinner with the rest of the team,” Yelena spoke, and it was the final word.
✶
You walked out of the grocery store enlightened. That’s where you’d seen the father-daughter duo before. The Wheaties box. They were part of the so-called ‘New Avengers’. It had been a few months since The Blackout, but you remembered it well. One second you’d been filling the 17 food bowls in Mrs. Lowinski’s kitchen, the next you were back in your childhood home.
You unlocked the front door and loaded your groceries in the cabinets and fridge. You sighed as you sat down on the couch, ready to call Mrs. Lowinski for your job back and to get back on Sitters NYC for more part-time work you could combine with your online classes.
Manhattan - Full-time 3 Children, aged 4, 6 & 9
Brooklyn - Part-time 4 Dogs
Queens - Au Pair 2 Children, aged 5 & 7 1 Cat
Manhattan - Part-time 3 Birds 1 Dog
Manhattan - Part-time 1 Child, age UNDISCLOSED
Ah, Alexei hadn’t taken the ad down yet. He’d been so nice, too. From what he’d described, you figured it was an older child, possibly a teenager, even, who needed someone to spend some time with every now and then. Not allowed to go out by themselves too much, irregular schedule, possible overnight stays. Nothing you couldn’t handle. Too bad it had been a misunderstanding.
You walked into the kitchen and got ready to prepare dinner for one, again. One day you might put yourself out there. ‘Find someone real nice to take care of you,’ as Mrs. Lowinski had insisted. God, you had really spent too much time with the elderly woman.
✶
“It really doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” Ava spoke as she munched on some broccoli.
“It’s not a bad idea, per se, it’s more that there’s factors we need to account for that Alexei overlooked. Like the fact that Bob is essentially a weapon that could be taken advantage of by the wrong person if we let them get too close,” Yelena had a point.
“I’m not that naive…” Bob chimed in, but everybody knew he was easily influenced. Not to mention he couldn’t control The Void, and where The Sentry was, The Void followed. They couldn’t risk it.
“I ran a background check, she’s just a college student. We can try it out with the next mission and see if Bob likes her. That’s the most important part, after all,” John argued. He grabbed the pot of potatoes and loaded a pile onto his plate, never satiated.
“Bob, be like John, eat loads of potatoes. Good for strength,” Alexei’s mouth was full as he spoke. Bob gave him a small smile in acknowledgement, raising his fork which had a potato on it.
“What does Bucky think?” Ava asked. The man rarely joined them for dinner, usually ‘too busy.’
“Haven’t spoken with him about it yet. I’ll call him after dinner to discuss. We need something if we’re gonna be as busy as Valentina is implying we’ll be,” Yelena sighed, stuffing her mouth with chicken.
“Bob, can you pass me the salt?” She asked, mouth full. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
They finished dinner and Bob went to clean up as usual while Yelena called Bucky on speakerphone, still at the dining table.
“I mean if she passed a background check I see no issue with at least trying it out. It’s not like we have many other options. He doesn’t need an actual caretaker. At least she’s somewhat his age, right? Maybe a little younger?” Bucky’s voice boomed from the phone and filled the room. The man was so up to date with technology, yet was still convinced he needed to talk louder if he was on speaker.
“I guess. I’ll have Alexei call her back. But it’s NOT my fault if this all goes wrong!” Yelena made it very clear. She was not about to be blamed if this ended in disaster. Best possible outcome; the girl did fine, blended in and spent time with Bob. Worst possible outcome? Who knows.
✶
”Are you really sure this time?” You asked Alexei over the phone. You’d been down this road with him before.
“Yes, Yelena asked me to call you herself. You come by tonight to meet the team and meet Bob. Will be fun!”
“Alright, I’ll be there by 9,” you confirmed. Who named their child Bob in this day and age?
“See you at 9!” Alexei boasted. The man hung up and you stared at your phone bewildered. He better be right. You better not be going back there for nothing again.
If you wanted to be on time, you’d have to leave soon. You put your shoes back on, grabbed your headphones and bag and ran back out the door. You locked it behind you and sped down the stairs of your building.
You walked to the subway station and put your earbuds in. Luckily the tower was only a few stops away, or this whole ordeal might’ve been more of a nuisance. The lights flickered irregularly as the metrocar shook through the underground. It seemed as though it was having more trouble than usual, but your trip was short, it didn’t matter as long as you got to your destination.
The car shook some more as you got off, but it was no longer of any worry. You ran up the stairs of the station and were once again met directly with the entrance to the tower, the second time today.
You walked back in and pressed the button for the elevator to come down. You sighed and got on, pressing the button for the penthouse and waited for the doors to close. The last thing you saw before they closed was the glass entrance of the tower being shattered. You flinched on instinct, but the elevator was already taking you up and away from the danger. Your heart thrummed in your chest. Was it just an accident, or was something bigger going on?
Your question was soon answered by an announcement over the intercom. Everybody below the top twenty floors had to evacuate the building. Not you, then. Still, you were worried.
The elevator came to a halt at the penthouse, doors sliding open agonizingly slow. You were met with a ruckus of people walking around yelling at each other.
“Babysitter is here!” Alexei yelled as he tugged a red mask over his face.
“Well that’s great timing, I guess,” Yelena spoke as she sheathed a few knives. She turned to look at you.
“Bob is in the kitchen. You just need to keep him company for now while we go deal with whatever is going on on the street. We’ll explain everything when we get back. Whatever you do, try to keep him happy, distracted and away from danger. If anything happens to him, your funeral.” The instructions (and threat) were clear.
Several people with an assortment of weapons bustled around you as you found your way to the kitchen. You looked around for a child, but there didn’t seem to be one in here. The only person you found was the guy you saw getting off the elevator earlier today, with the comfy outfit and tousled hair. He was seated at the breakfast island, watching as the others got ready for what you assumed would be quite the fight.
“Uh, hi?” It came out as a question unintentionally. He turned to you, your first time catching a good look at his face.
“Oh! Hi, uhm, you must be the, uh, sitter?” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. You nodded, putting your bag on the counter and looking him over. You looked around again, no child or teen in sight.
“Aren’t you supposed to be, like, getting ready for battle?” You mimicked a fighting pose. He chuckled and shook his head.
“No, it’s usually best to keep me as far away from those kinds of situations as possible…” He looked away, obviously not proud of the fact.
You sought out eye contact and reached out your hand. He looked at it before looking back to your eyes, tentatively reaching out. You introduced yourself and stretched your hand out further, encouraging him to take it. He was like a skittish kitten.
“I’m Bob,” was all you heard before your vision was delved in black and you returned to a memory from a past life left behind.
CHAPTER 2
Title: Take On Me
Pairing: Robert "Bob" Reynolds x f!reader
Summary: Running into your ex was not on your agenda today, and a cute stranger helps you avoid unwanted confrontation. What happens when you decide to get to know Bob?
Tags: talks of past abuse, mentions of past drug use, talks of trauma, fluff, comfort, smut, unprotected sex(not advised), strangers to lovers, idiots in love, cuties being patooties, no beta we die like taskmaster.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Au where Erwin sends announcement emails to his coworkers at 7am with attachments like these.
there's no death here | robert "bob" reynolds [masterlist]
ao3 version
part 1 part 2 part 3 part 3.5
Me, who hasn't consumed any MCU content in the last 5 years: SIX??? WE WENT THROUGH SIX PHASES ALREADY???????
Clint in the vents and that’s his whole personality because he wasn’t fleshed out in the movies → Ava in the walls and that’s her whole personality because she wasn’t fleshed out in the movies
Thor eating poptarts and overusing proper words because English isn’t his first language and he’s the comedic relief → Alexei eating Wheaties and overusing proper words because English isn’t his first language and he’s the comedic relief
Natasha pranking and laughing at everyone from the sidelines because fanon decided she’s just silly like that → Yelena pranking and laughing at everyone from the sidelines because canon decided she’s just silly like that
Bruce being a sweet, soft-spoken, unassuming guy but also the most fucking unhinged monstrosity if you catch him on a bad day → Bob being a sweet, soft-spoken, unassuming guy but also the most fucking unhinged monstrosity if you catch him on a sad day
Steve being handed the de facto title of goody two shoes leader despite being the LAST person on board with this → Bucky being handed the de facto title of goody two shoes leader despite being the last person on board with this
Tony being a big-mouthed asshole that’s secretly haunted by his past mistakes which involved publicly supporting the US military via PR stunts as a weapons manufacturer → John being a big-mouthed asshole that’s secretly haunted by his past mistakes which involved publicly supporting the US military via PR stunts as a weapon himself
Pairing: Robert ‘Bob’ Reynolds x reader
Summary: Y/N and Bob had a life before he disappear, full of love, hope, and a lot of chaos, but they managed each other, she was the only one who truly could make him avoid the void inside his mind. How could he turn his only light into a shadow in his mind ?
Note: I wrote this with Sunshine & Rain.. By Kali Uchis, feel free to enjoy this with that on repeat to really feel it burn. Also please somebody give me HD gifs asap. Also if you hadn't read the preview yet, I recommend it!
Word count: 4,7k
Preview
--
The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting an ugly green tinge over the already-drab walls of the 23rd Precinct. Y/N pushed the door open with her elbow, hands full—one holding a stack of wrinkled flyers with Bob’s photo on them, the other clutching the hem of her coat closed.
The front desk officer didn’t even look up.
The bell above the door had long since stopped ringing for her.
She shuffled to the counter. She was wearing the same hoodie she always wore—his hoodie, oversized and faintly smelling of old laundry detergent and smoke. Her stomach was just beginning to curve outward, subtle but undeniable beneath the fabric. Four months.
“Hey, Ms. Y/L/N,” the desk sergeant mumbled without meeting her eyes. “You’re back.”
She placed the flyers down with quiet urgency. “I printed new ones. Better quality. I added a note about the reward this time, in case someone’s seen him.”
The sergeant sighed, his pen clinking on the desk as he leaned back.
“I told you last time. No new leads.”
“I’m not asking for a miracle,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “Just—please check if anything came in since last week. A tip. A sighting. A… a body, no, not that, but anything really.”
A uniformed officer behind the counter—young, smug, cruel in that casual way people are when they forget you’re human—snorted. “Lady, you know the guy was a junkie, right? Odds are he got tired of playing house and ran off when the stick turned pink.”
Y/N’s heart splintered. Her hands clenched the flyers. “Don’t—don’t you dare say that about him.”
He shrugged. “C’mon. You don’t have to be a detective to figure it out. He got high and vanished. People like that don’t come back. Especially not to play Daddy.”
“He’s not like that!” she shouted, her voice cracking.
The room went quiet.
A throat cleared gently behind her.
“Y/N?” came the familiar rasp of Officer Cooper, stepping out from a side hallway. Silver-haired and weathered, he’d been on the force longer than most of the others had been alive. He always spoke softly, like he didn’t want to scare away whatever kindness he still believed in.
Y/N blinked back tears and turned.
“Let’s take a walk,” Cooper said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get some air.”
--
Outside, the sky was overcast. Cold. Cooper lit a cigarette but didn’t offer her one.
They stood in silence next to the station’s rusted bench. She stared down at the pavement, at her frayed shoelaces, at the grey world around her.
Then she broke.
“I can’t sleep, Mr. Cooper,” she whispered, voice small. “I dream about him every night. I wake up thinking maybe he’s home, maybe I missed a call. But then it’s just me. Just me and this baby. I don’t know what I’m doing—I don’t have money, I don’t have family. He was my family.”
Cooper nodded slowly, his expression unreadable.
“I know you’ve been kind,” she said, her voice rising. “You’ve listened. But I need more. I need you to put more people on this. I need you to look for him like he’s not just some addict you all gave up on.”
She wiped her face with her sleeve. Her tears soaked through it instantly.
“Please. Just… just try. For me. For him. For our child. Bobby wouldn’t leave me. Not like this. Not without a word. Not him.”
Cooper took a long drag from his cigarette. Then sighed.
“There’s something I have to tell you.”
She froze.
His eyes softened, like he wished he could lie. Like he hated what he was about to do.
“We finally traced a lead. Someone matching Bob’s description was seen boarding a flight out of the country.”
She couldn’t breathe.
“Where?”
“Malaysia,” he said quietly.
The word hit her like a sledgehammer.
“No,” she whispered. “That’s… no, he wouldn’t… He didn’t have money. He didn’t have a passport.”
“He did,” Cooper said, sadly. “We checked. It was valid. Bought the ticket in cash. No forwarding contact. No signs of foul play.”
She staggered back, her body suddenly too heavy. Her hand flew to her belly as if to anchor herself.
“So… you’re saying he left me.”
“I’m saying,” Cooper murmured, “that we don’t believe he vanished. We believe he made a choice.”
“No,” she choked. “No, he didn’t. He loved me. We were building a life. He called me his miracle. We were deciding on a name. He cried when I told him. He held me all night and said he’d never leave.”
Cooper looked down at his shoes.
“I know, kid.”
Tears streamed down her face now, silent and relentless.
“I waited. Every day, I waited,” she sobbed. “I believed in him. I still do. He’s sick, not a monster. You’re telling me he abandoned his child before the baby was even born?”
Cooper said nothing. There was nothing to say.
Finally, she whispered, “Is he coming back ? Did he buy two tickets? He did, right, to come back to me, to us?”
Cooper crushed the cigarette beneath his boot.
“One way ticket. Maybe it's better if u go home, take a breath, and just... you can call me, ok ? I have a daughter just like you and she's an amzing mother, you will be too. You have to go to work, just rest.”
She just looked at the flyers in her hand. For months he just disappear, all her money spent in paper, organizing searches, paying potential dealers for a tip of his whereabouts.
"So this is it?"
--
2 years ago
The Cluckin’ Bucket wasn’t exactly a place dreams were made of.
The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead like a swarm of angry flies, flickering over cracked linoleum tiles and chipped yellow walls. The scent of fried oil hung in the air like a second skin, clinging to every surface. It was 11:43 PM, just seventeen minutes before closing, and the only two souls left inside were Y/N, wiping down tables, and Bob, in the back room, peeling off the heavy, foam-rubber chicken costume that had been slowly cooking him alive for eight hours.
He winced as he pulled the beak off his head, his sweat-damp hair sticking up in odd places. His T-shirt clung to his back, his jeans sagged slightly on his hips, and his bones ached in that weird, chemically induced way that only came from a cocktail of meth and shame.
He hadn’t wanted this job.
He sure as hell hadn’t wanted the chicken suit.
But here he was—twenty-something, barely scraping by, dancing on a street corner in 95-degree heat to try and convince people to buy discount wings.
He tucked the suit away in its plastic bag, sighing, and padded into the dining area, rubbing the back of his neck.
And then he saw her.
Y/N.
The new waitress.
She was crouched in front of the soda machine, elbow-deep in the syrup line, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, earbuds dangling from her neck. She was humming something—Fleetwood Mac, he thought—but he couldn’t be sure.
She wore her name tag crooked on her chest, and there was a smudge of sauce on her cheek.
But to him? She looked like she belonged in a painting.
He froze for a second too long, just staring.
God, she was pretty. And he was in a chicken suit just minutes ago. And probably still smelled like sweat and fryer grease. Cool. Real smooth.
She glanced up—and caught him.
Her eyebrows rose a little. Her mouth quirked.
“Robert, right?” she asked, tilting her head. Her voice was warm, amused, like she already knew the answer.
His throat caught. “Uh. Yeah. Bob, actually.”
“Bob,” she repeated, like she was trying it on. “Can you help me with something?”
“Sure,” he said too quickly.
She straightened, gesturing toward a box at her feet. “I’m trying to get this up to the top shelf, but it’s heavier than it looks and my arms are, like, noodles right now.”
He nodded and stepped forward, kneeling to lift the box without much effort. He was wiry, but stronger than he looked. She watched him, subtly biting the corner of her lip.
“Thanks,” she said as he set the box down on the shelf. “You’re stronger than you look.”
He gave a sheepish laugh, rubbing his arm. “Yeah, well… spinning a giant arrow for eight hours a day builds muscles, I guess.”
She smiled. “Don’t sell yourself short. That costume? Kinda iconic.”
He turned bright red. “Oh, God.”
“What?” she teased. “I think it’s cute.”
“Cute?”
“Yeah,” she said, wiping her hands on a rag. “I mean, it takes a certain kind of confidence to dance in a chicken suit and not die of embarrassment.”
He snorted. “More like a lack of options.”
There was a pause—just a second too long.
“Still,” she said, voice softer now, “You’ve got a good smile, Bob.”
He blinked. “What?”
“I said, you’ve got a good smile.”
He swallowed, heart hammering for no reason he could explain. She was looking at him. Not through him. Not with pity. Just… seeing him. And it had been a long time since someone had done that.
They started talking more after that.
Little things. Jokes during their shifts. Late-night scraps of conversation while wiping down counters or restocking sauces. She’d bring him a free soda when she noticed him flagging. He’d sweep her section when her feet were too tired to move. Neither of them said it out loud, but it became something—a rhythm, a comfort.
He never told her about the drugs.
But she saw the shadows under his eyes. The way his hands shook sometimes. The way he chewed his inner cheek when he thought no one was looking. She didn’t ask, and he was grateful.
Until that one night.
They were walking out together. The parking lot was empty, bathed in yellow streetlight. The air was thick with humidity. Bob carried his bag over his shoulder, still fidgeting with the zipper.
Y/N was quiet beside him, arms crossed over her chest.
They reached the edge of the lot. Her car was parked beneath the flickering sign.
He stopped. She didn’t.
Then, she turned back.
“Hey,” she said. “Can I ask you something?”
He nodded slowly. “Yeah. Sure.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
He blinked. “Uh. No. Why?”
She smiled—and it knocked the air out of him.
“Just wondering,” she said, stepping a little closer. “Because if you don’t… I was wondering when you were going to ask me out.”
He stared at her, stunned.
“I—I mean—I didn’t think you’d—why would you—” he stammered.
She laughed, shaking her head. “Bob. I like you.”
He swallowed. “You do?”
“Yeah,” she said. “Even with the chicken suit.”
And then, because his body moved before his fear could stop him, he smiled—wide and real.
“I… would really like that.”
“Good,” she said, walking backwards toward her car, grinning. “Then don’t keep me waiting.”
He stood in the parking lot long after she drove away, heart pounding, a dumb grin on his face.
For the first time in years, the night didn’t feel so heavy.
--
Central Park in the early evening was dipped in gold.
The last fingers of sunlight threaded through the leaves like warm lace, casting dappled shadows on the grass. It was one of those rare New York days—cool but not cold, the air kissed with early autumn, the sky a watercolor blend of lavender and peach.
Bob stood awkwardly near a bench beneath a sycamore tree, tugging at the hem of his second-best flannel. His fingers twitched in his jacket pocket, where he kept the meth pipe he hadn’t touched in two days.
He was sweating.
Not from the weather.
From her.
Because Y/N was there, spreading out a gingham blanket on the grass near the edge of a pond, her hair tucked behind her ears, a small cooler bag next to her feet.
She looked like someone who belonged in the light.
He still wasn’t convinced he deserved to be sitting beside her in it.
“Okay,” she said, brushing imaginary dust from the blanket. “Don’t laugh. I made too much.”
Bob walked over slowly, hands in his pockets, watching as she pulled out a series of plastic containers and neatly wrapped foil packets. Sandwiches. Potato salad. Tiny cupcakes with blue frosting that had clearly been made with care. Even folded napkins.
“Holy crap,” he said, blinking. “Did you raid a deli or something?”
She grinned. “No, I made it. I… I like cooking.”
“For me?”
She looked at him like it was obvious. “Yeah. Who else would I be trying to impress, Bob?”
He knelt on the blanket, legs crossed, still a little stiff, watching her with barely restrained disbelief. “I just… I’ve never had anyone… you know. Do something like this. For me.”
She shrugged, setting a container between them. “Well, now you have.”
He picked up a sandwich, still stunned. “You made all this… for a guy who dresses like a poultry mascot?”
She chuckled. “I happen to like that guy.”
Bob opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He just smiled—a shy, crooked thing—and took a bite.
Bob sat on the edge of the picnic blanket, chewing slowly, trying not to look too shocked by how good the sandwich in his hand was. “Okay,” he said between bites, “you’re going to have to explain to me how you made this taste like something from an actual restaurant. What’s in this?”
Y/N grinned, tucking a napkin under her leg to keep it from blowing away. “Nothing fancy. Chicken, basil, a little Dijon, homemade aioli—”
“H-homemade? Who even makes aioli? That’s, like, elite-level cooking.”
“I like cooking,” she said simply, with a shrug. “It calms me down. Helps me feel like I’ve got control over something, you know?”
He nodded slowly, finishing the last of the sandwich. “Yeah, I get that. It’s like spinning that dumb arrow—kinda zen, if you ignore the back pain.”
She laughed. “That’s tragic. I cook to relax, and you give yourself arthritis.”
“Hey, I’m not proud.”
She passed him a small container of fruit salad, their knees brushing slightly under the blanket. There was a breeze picking up, threading through the grass, fluttering the corners of the gingham cloth. In the distance, a dog barked, and somewhere near the pond a violinist had started playing faintly.
“You live with roommates? Alone?” Bob asked suddenly, trying to picture what her place might look like. “Your kitchen’s probably better than mine. Mine’s got, like, one working burner and a fridge that sounds like it’s dying.”
She hesitated, then looked down at her hands. “Actually… I live alone now.”
His brows lifted slightly, sensing the shift in her voice.
“I didn’t always,” she continued. “My ex boyfriend and I used to live together, in this little apartment off Bedford. It was cramped, noisy, walls were paper-thin… but it was kind of cozy. It felt like ours.”
Bob stayed quiet, letting her speak.
“He left about nine months ago,” she said. “For someone else. Someone with shinier hair and a ‘real’ job, probably. I don’t know. One day he said he didn’t love me anymore, and that was that.”
Bob’s chest tightened.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly.
She waved a hand, but her smile was tinged with something older than the moment. “It sucked. But if he hadn’t left, I wouldn’t have taken the job at Cluckin’ Bucket. Wouldn’t have ended up on night shifts. Wouldn’t have met you.”
He blinked, thrown. “That’s… wow. You really think that’s a good trade?”
She shrugged again, but this time with a little smile. “I’m here with you, aren’t I?”
Bob looked down at the cupcakes, the homemade food, the folded napkins. All for him.
He cleared his throat. “I just don’t get it. How someone could be with you and let you slip through their fingers. That guy had the f—freaking lottery ticket and he just… walked away?”
She glanced at him, visibly surprised by the fire in his voice.
“I mean it,” Bob said, quieter now. “If it were me… I’d never let you go.”
The moment stretched between them, warm and tender.
She looked at him for a long time, something soft and wounded behind her eyes.
“You’re sweet, Bob,” she said quietly.
“I’m not,” he replied without thinking. “Not really. But I want to be.”
Her lips parted like she wanted to say something else, but instead she reached for another sandwich.
They sat in silence again, this time heavier.
Then Bob spoke, his voice rough.
“I don’t have anyone either,” he said. “No family. No ties. Just a bunch of mistakes and a backpack that smells like old socks.”
She looked at him. “No one at all?”
He shrugged. “Not since my mom passed. My dad was… not really in the picture. I’ve kinda just been floating since then.”
“Me too,” she said. “It’s like… we’re both ghosts in a city full of people who have somewhere to be.”
That hit him harder than he expected.
He nodded slowly, chewing the inside of his cheek.
“I always thought,” he murmured, “that maybe I was just built to be alone. Like I was meant to burn out early. Some people are just… too messed up to fit.”
She leaned toward him, brushing a thumb gently against his hand.
“You’re not messed up,” she whispered. “You’re just… lost. And that’s not the same thing.”
His heart nearly stopped.
“You’re the first person who’s ever said that,” he admitted.
“Then everyone else was wrong.”
He didn’t know what came over him then—maybe it was the sunset or the food or the warmth of her fingers against his—but he turned toward her, and for once, he didn’t feel ashamed.
“Can I… see you again?” he asked.
Her eyes crinkled with a smile.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
--
present day
The apartment was still.
Still in the way a place only gets after someone is gone—not just physically, but really gone. Like the soul of the place had followed them out the door and taken all the warmth with it.
The late afternoon sun filtered weakly through the dusty blinds, casting long stripes across the bed where Y/N lay curled on her side. Their bed. His side still had the indent of his body, even after months. She hadn’t brought herself to sleep on it, like maybe the dip in the mattress could hold his shape long enough for him to come back and fill it.
Her hand cradled the curve of her growing belly. Just past four months. She was showing now. Her body knew, even if the world didn’t care.
Across from her on the nightstand were the pictures—cheap Polaroids and one dog-eared photo booth strip from Coney Island, taped crookedly to the wall. Bob’s stupid half-smile grinned back at her in every frame. The one where he was pretending to flex with a corndog in hand. The one where he looked away, caught off-guard, cheeks red from laughing at something she said.
Her thumb brushed the edge of the picture. Her throat burned.
“God, Bobby…” Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper.
A fresh wave of tears pressed from behind her eyes and spilled freely down her cheek, soaking into the pillow. She clutched the blanket tighter with one hand and her belly with the other.
“You left,” she murmured. “You really left.”
She bit her lip so hard it nearly split, the ache in her chest unbearable.
“I defended you. I told them you’d never run. I called every hospital, every shelter. Put up posters with your face in every goddamn corner of this city. I begged the police to keep looking because I knew something was wrong. I thought maybe you were in trouble, or hurt… or…”
Her voice broke, raw and low.
“Turns out you were just gone. Just—just done.”
She sat up slowly, wiping her face with the sleeve of Bob’s old hoodie—still too big on her, still faintly smelling like him, like cologne and smoke and something warmer.
“You saved up that money. You actually planned this,” she whispered, hollow. “You looked me in the eye… kissed me goodnight, touched our baby, and you already knew you weren’t coming back.”
Her breath hitched as her hand moved over the swell of her belly, as if trying to protect the child from the truth pressing in.
“You knew I was pregnant. And you still left. That’s what makes it worse. Not the addiction. Not the lies. That. You knew, and it didn’t stop you.”
The silence that followed was deafening.
“I gave up everything trying to find you, Bobby,” she said, louder now, choking on the grief. “I drained what little savings I had. Every cent I scraped together went to flyers, gas, private search sites. I even hired some guy off Craigslist who said he could ‘track people down for a price.’ That was three hundred dollars I’ll never get back.”
She laughed bitterly through her tears.
“I work double shifts now just to stay afloat. Still serving greasy food to assholes who think I’m invisible—coming home to this empty fucking apartment, sleeping in a bed that feels like a coffin.”
She fell back onto the pillow and stared up at the ceiling, her chest rising and falling in short, shallow breaths.
“I really thought you were different,” she whispered. “I did. I thought… maybe this time, it wouldn’t end with someone leaving. I really get left for everything else at this point, not good enough, prettier women, drugs. And maybe that’s worse. Because at least he looked me in the eye and said goodbye. Or maybe…did you find a better woman Bobby?”
Her lips trembled as another sob escaped.
“You said you loved me. You said we were in this together. We made something together, Bobby. We made a life. And you just… vanished.”
She reached for the ultrasound photo tucked into the drawer and held it to her chest.
“I swear he moves and grows everytime I cry,” she whispered. “Like he knows I need a distraction.”
She ran her hand down her belly again, slower this time.
“But I won’t let them grow up thinking he or she was a mistake. Or unworth staying for.”
The room felt unbearably quiet now. Still, again. But this time, colder.
She closed her eyes and curled tighter around herself, the photos, the baby. Everything she had left.
“I’ll do this without you,” she said softly. “Even if it breaks me.”
And in the stillness, in the tiny home they had built, she stares at the ceiling. Thinking. Doubting. Is this all that life can be ? How would she be able to take care of a little human? Maybe this baby wasn't meant for her. Maybe it was someone else's place to be their mom.
Maybe that's it.
Then I will wait. Just until the baby comes.
This shit is so cute, Bee has my entire heart
Pairing: Oscar Piastri x Felicity Leong-Piastri (Original Character)
Summary: The one where Oscar has been married since he was 18 years old and never bothered to tell most people.
Links:
In chronological order:
The Alpine - McLaren Fiasco…and Felicity Piastri’s hand in it. (Or: why multiple F1 team principals are terrified of Oscar’s wife.) Set in the Summer of 2022.
Oscar Piastri realises that his daughter is more similiar to his wife than he thought. Set in Summer 2023.
How to parent a genius: A guide by Oscar Piastri.
Oscar Piastri had always been a calm, collected kind of guy. Unshakeable, even.
Lando Norris, on the other hand? Not so much.
And today? Today was the day Lando fully lost it.
Mclaren’s staff reactions to Oscar Piastri’s surprise marriage reveal.
Oscar Piastri managed to keep his wife a secret on accident for nearly half a decade…
Come to think off, that was not the only one he kept a secret.
Oscar Piastri is just happy to be home with his girls. Lando Norris meets Felicity and Bee Piastri.
Oscar Piastri thought doing kindergarten drop-off for his daughter would be easy — until Bee negotiates like a Formula 1 strategist and declares that the chickens at home are better friends than her classmates.
Lando finds out about a Piastri family tradition.
The most attractive thing about Oscar Piastri wasn’t his appearance. Or his mind, even though he was brilliant. It’s the way he loves his daughter.
Kimi Antonelli thought he could handle anything — race cars, pressure, a wet track…but his math homework may destroy him. Enter Bee Piastri.
Oscar Piastri is absolutely oblivious to the fact that people try to flirt with him. It drives Lando nuts. Felicity finds it very amusing though.
Bonus: The original version of The mysterious Mrs Piastri that started it all.
GUYS WAKE UP, A NEW AVENGERS SMAU JUST DROPPED 🗣️🗣️‼️‼️‼️
Pairing: Bob Reynolds x Reader
Summary: You quickly become an unofficial mascot for two rival soccer teams after Pietro and Peter bring you to a guys night. But you’re quick to have a preference between the two.
Warnings: Language, mental health topics
Twitter Profiles
Part 1
*on a mission*
you: i've got to get back before Bob realises i'm not in bed!
*meanwhile back at the Watchtower with Bob looking for you, swaddled in a blanket, on the brink of crying*
bob: (name)? (name)!
tbf he's gonna need it
tbf he's gonna need it
༄ ✩ ⭑ ✧ . ° . * 。☽ FIRST BOOK.PART ONE
✶intro ✶news ✶i'm capri persson ✶first day ✶the ghost ✶no victory
✶01.BACK ON TRACK ✶02.I DON'T WANNA TALK ✶03.ABOUT THE TEAM ✶04.MY BIGGEST FEAR ✶05.FEMALE DISAPPOINTMENT ✶06.I KNOW HOW IT FEELS LIKE ✶07.ALONE AT HOME ✶08.YOU CAME ✶09.WHY ARE YOU SO AFRAID OF HIM? ✶10.YOUR WORST TRAITOR ✶11.SKI SLOPE ✶12.WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR MIND FOR YOUR FUTURE? ✶13.OBSESSION ✶14.THE ACCIDENT ✶15.I DON'T WANNA GO ✶16.THIS IS LIFE ✶17.THE BLONDE LIAR ✶18.NEVER A 10 ✶19.WE ARE THE SAME ✶20.I JUST FEEL IT ✶21.OUR ETERNAL MOMENT ✶22.THE WORLD IS UNFAIR ✶23.THE MEETING ✶24.DO YOU WANT IT? ✶25.TAKE THE RISK ✶26.AN ITALIAN EVENING ✶27.I CARE ABOUT YOU ✶28.I'M SORRY ✶29.WHAT IF HE LOVES ME? ✶30.SILVERSTONE ✶31.HISTORIC DAY ✶32.PLAY DIRTY ✶33.HEAL AND HELP ✶34.WHY NOT? ✶35.IT FEELS LIKE HOME ✶36.GHOST EYES
༄ ✩ ⭑ ✧ . ° . * 。☽ FIRST BOOK.PART TWO
soon...
🏎 SUMMARY: What if the best driver of recent years isn't actually him? What if the best driver is actually hiding something else? Would he still be the best? Or just a simple fraud? 📓 GENRE: secret identity / rivals to lovers / he felt first, she felt harder / soulmates / slow burn 📝AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm still learning a lot of thing in the tumblr community so i'm always glad to read all your suggestions about anything that you may thing can make this little place much better.
Special thanks to @dreadity that has been really nice for telling me some advices in this whole new adventure.
Kisses, Phoebs.
🏎 SUMMARY: What if the best driver of recent years isn't actually him? What if the best driver is actually hiding something else? Would he still be the best? Or just a simple fraud? 📓 GENRE: secret identity / rivals to lovers / he felt first, she felt harder / soulmates / slow burn 📬 PARTS: book one (two parts) / CP9, book two (one part) 🏆 CAPRIPERSSON.MASTERLIST
"The male ego created drivers full of rage and ambition, ready to destroy every piece of their race car if they lost. But feminine disappointment—my feminine disappointment—watched my car burn in the flames as the man crossed the finish line. This feminine disappointment observed and cultivated in silence; it was stealthy, never aggressive or noticeable. This kind of disappointment killed you slowly and painfully, only to force you to rise again from the ashes. There was no rage, no ambition—only the crack, and the mourning, of my disappointment."
01 ..................... BACK ON TRACK
02 ..................... I DON'T WANNA TALK
03 ..................... ABOUT THE TEAM
04 ..................... MY BIGGEST FEAR
05 ..................... FEMALE DISAPPOINTMENT
06 ..................... I KNOW HOW IT FEELS LIKE
07 ..................... ALONE AT HOME
08 ..................... YOU CAME
09 ..................... WHY ARE YOU SO AFRAID OF HIM?
10 ..................... YOUR WORST TRAITOR
11 ..................... SKI SLOPE
12 ..................... WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR MIND FOR YOUR FUTURE?
13 ..................... OBSESSION
14 ..................... THE ACCIDENT
15 ..................... I DON'T WANNA GO
16 ..................... THIS IS LIFE
17 ..................... THE BLONDE LIAR
18 ..................... NEVER A 10
19 .....................WE ARE THE SAME
20 ..................... I JUST FEEL IT
21 ..................... OUR ETERNAL MOMENT
22 ..................... THE WORLD IS UNFAIR
23 ..................... THE MEETING
24 ..................... DO YOU WANT IT?
25 ..................... TAKE THE RISK
26 ..................... AN ITALIAN EVENING
27 ..................... I CARE ABOUT YOU
28 ..................... I'M SORRY
29 ..................... WHAT IF HE LOVES ME?
30 ..................... SILVERSTONE
31 ..................... HISTORIC DAY
32 ..................... PLAY DIRTY
33 ..................... HEAL AND HELP
34 ..................... WHY NOT?
35 ..................... IT FEELS LIKE HOME
36 ..................... GHOST EYES
➤ PART.TWO
old posters:
«PREVIOUS: No Victory
someone in my server pointed out that
hes kinda giving
so i did the unthinkable and
I have decided to write fanfiction, after over a decade of reading them voraciously. This will be my first one; and I have put in all my effort to make it a fanfic that I would have fallen in love with.
This will be a very long, multi-chapter fic. Slow burn would be an understatement. But it will be worth it.
Anthony Bridgerton x fem!reader
Synopsis: A childhood spent under the same roof forged bonds of laughter, comfort, and camaraderie—but never anything more. Or so you told yourself. But when Anthony announces his intent to marry this season, and you find yourself pursued by a suitor of your own, the unspoken begins to unravel. Now, amidst courtships, stolen glances, and a meddlesome family with a penchant for chaos, you must navigate the delicate line between duty and desire. You are not his choice. And yet…he cannot look away.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Bonus Chapter
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Bonus Chapter
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Bonus Chapter
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
pairing: anthony bridgerton x sister's best friend!fem!reader status: ongoing
At her wit's end after Anthony's multiple attempts to scare away her suitors, Daphne employs her best friend's help to keep her brother distracted while she tries to find a husband. It's a foolproof plan, except it ends up working a little too well. (or, a Bridgerton version of The Taming of the Shrew/10 things I hate about you)
Chapter 1 - I said, "dancin' is a dangerous game" Chapter 2 - I won't confess that I waited, but I let the lamp burn Chapter 3 - it was all by design Chapter 4 - uh oh, I'm fallin' in love Chapter 5 - they said the end is coming, everyone's up to something Chapter 6 - oh, my, love is a lie Chapter 7 - I wish I could un-recall how we almost had it all Chapter 8 - if I'm dead to you why are you at the wake Chapter 9 - in my defense, I have none Chapter 10 - coming soon...
follow @bosbas-library for updates!
buy me a ko-fi!
Dearest Gentle reader, as another season starts so do the surprises. It has been said that we are to welcome the Queen and King of Genovia for the first half of this season, and not only that but to witness the very first public appearance of their eldest, Princess Y/N Devereaux. I'm sure the Queen will want us to be the most gracious hosts, even if this family of royals have a reputation for enjoying scandal. Isn't it exciting when life becomes a fairytale of sorts?
(Bridgerton x Princess Diaries crossover)
Chapter 1. Fun Times & Potty Rooms
Chapter 2. The Botanist
Chapter 3. Faux Pas
Chapter 4. The Artist
Chapter 5. Drawing Lessons
Chapter 6. Thoughts & Ink
Chapter 7. A Moment of Enlightenment
Chapter 8. An Offer From a Gentleman
Chapter 9. Wallflowers
Chapter 10. Lilacs
Chapter 11. Gilded Feathers
Chapter 12. Roses
Chapter 13. Hyacinths
Chapter 14. Ivy
Chapter 15. Red Catchfly
Chapter 16. Oak-leaved Geranium
Chapter 17. Weeds
Chapter 18. Little Joys
Chapter 19. Lavender
Chapter 20. Moss Rosebud
Chapter 21. Uncharted Waters
Chapter 22. Michaelmas Daisies
Chapter 23. Pear Trees
This WILL be an 18+ story (Minors DNI!) so yes it's mostly smut with a lot of plot
Chapter 24. Reveries
Chapter 25. Hydrangeas
Join the taglist HERE.
-Danny
Benedict Bridgerton x Princess!Reader
18+
Summary: The youngest daughter of Queen Charlotte and King George, plagued by the same illness as her father, grows tired of her lonely and isolated existence. When escaping the prison-like castle she has been sequestered in for her entire life, she meets a young man who shares her love for painting and whom she can not stop thinking about. Secrets, betrayal, and love all fight against one another. Which one will win?
Series Warnings: Love at first sight; POV third person; eventual smut; isolation; dramatic/inaccurate depictions of mental illness; thoughts of death; there will be fluff, okay? I swear; potential historical inaccuracies; complex mother/daughter relationship; historical medical practices; SIMP Benedict; idgaf about historical canon; complicated sibling relationships; execution by hanging
Tags specified before each chapter
(Tags will be updated as the story continues)
Last Updated: 03/28/24 (Complete)
*indicates smut
Chapter One - Loathing Boredom
Chapter Two - Ruinous Secrets
Chapter Three - Never is a Promise
Chapter Four - As the Poets Say
Chapter Five - Vagrant Body
Chapter Six - Codes and Clues
Chapter Seven - Dig My Fingers in
Chapter Eight - No Light of My Own
Chapter Nine - This Sweet Plague *
Chapter Ten - Tricked By the Past
Chapter Eleven - No Label, No Name
Chapter Twelve - Keeping Time
Chapter Thirteen - Only You Can Mend
Chapter Fourteen - Not Above Violence
Interlude - Lady Whistledown
Chapter Fifteen - Matching Wounds
Chapter Sixteen - Go Along to Be With You
Chapter Seventeen - Balanced on Desire
Interlude - Marietta
Chapter Eighteen - Oh, My One
Chapter Nineteen - Like Fuel to Fire *
Chapter Twenty - If I Send for You
Interlude - Honeymoon *
Chapter Twenty One - An Atom and a Star
Chapter Twenty Two - The Bed I Was Born In *
Chapter Twenty Three - Don't Wait to Understand
Chapter Twenty Four - Fingers Laced a Crown
Chapter Twenty Five - Here to Kingdom Come *
Epilogue - A Moment, A Love
Drabble - Pall Mall Drabble - Picnic Drabble - Like Mother, Like Son Drabble - Jealousy Drabble - More Than a Maid Drabble - Coronation Day Drabble - Second Son Drabble - Number Four Drabble - Reasonably Unreasonable Drabble - Tag, You're It Drabble - Sisters Drabble - Spoiled Drabble - Opal of the Season Drabble - Fit for Family Drabble - Garden in Bloom * (smut adjacent) Drabble - What if? AU
summary: Benedict Bridgerton longs for more than society’s expectations, drawn instead to art and freedom. Y/N, a fiercely talented but struggling artist, fights for recognition in a world that dismisses women of her class. When their paths cross, fascination sparks—a shared passion for art bridging the divide between privilege and survival. But their growing connection threatens them both in a world where reputation is everything. As scandal looms and duty calls, they must choose: conform to society’s rules or risk everything for love, ambition, and the art that brought them together.
total word count: 68.2k
Red = Smut
One - The Woman In Midnight
Two - Promenade
Three - A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Four - Connoisseur of the Unconventional
Five - Whitechapel
Six - Number Five
Seven - Ruinous
Eight - Let her Choose
Nine - Muse
Ten - An Offer From a Gentleman
Eleven - Under the Arch
Twelve - Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers
Thirteen - I am Haunted
Fourteen - The Salon
Fifteen - My Cottage
Sixteen - The End
Epilogue
shitpost that turned into remembering how good the character designs actually are in this game
The Fallen Angel Levi Ackerman
Oscar Piastri x Francesca Gold (OFC)
Summary — Francesca Gold is an introvert with a quiet life and a YouTube channel where she talks about books, drinks too much tea, and rarely ever shows her face. She prefers it that way — tucked into her London flat with her cat, Henry, and safely hidden behind a screen.
Oscar Piastri is a Formula 1 driver. Fast-paced, high-stakes, always on the move. He hasn’t read a book in years, but he’s watched every single one of Francesca’s videos. Just for the sound of her voice.
Following her on Instagram was a moment of weakness. He didn’t think she’d notice.
She did.
Warnings — Very heavy focus on Francesca’s mental health issues (social anxiety, agoraphobia, and seasonal depression). Self harm (in the form of skin picking). Slow-burn romance. Eventual steamy scenes (open door romance).
Hope you love it — Peach x
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN PT. 1
CHAPTER SEVEN PT. 2
CHAPTER EIGHT PT. 1
CHAPTER EIGHT PT. 2 (THE EPILOGUE)
baby sumo with his dad
Lando Norris x Amelia Brown (OFC)
Summary — Order is everything. Her habits aren’t quirks, they’re survival techniques. And only three people in the world have permission to touch her: Mom, Dad, Fernando.
Then Lando Norris happens.
One moment. One line crossed. No going back.
Warnings — Autistic!OFC, Zak’s daughter OFC, forbidden romance vibes, very very slowburn romance, ableism on page, strong language, autistic meltdowns on page, eventual sexual content.
Notes — Hope you love it. This series will be longer than From Eden, possibly around 20 chapters. Remember to check each chapter for individual warnings.
Want to be added to the taglist? Let me know! — Peach x
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
What’s your favorite time of day?
Oh you know the time where I get to read about fictional characters being in love with me
NEW HICCUP X READER FANFIC IN THE BIG '25 🗣️🗣️🗣️‼️‼️‼️
DISPARATE
MASTERLIST
HICCUP HADDOCK x FEM!READER
Summary: when a girl finally gives the oddball a chance after a strange encounter, she finds that while he’s odd— he’s much greater than anyone would have ever expected.
Season 1 below ↴
Chapter 1 — ᛟᛚᛁᚲᚱ
Chapter 2 — ᚨᚠᛊᛟᚲᚢᚾ
Chapter 3 — ᚺᛟᚾᚢᛗ
Chapter 4 — ᚲᛖᚾᛁᛜ ᛖᛁᚾ
Chapter 5 — ᚢᛟᛚᚢᚾᛞᚨᚱᚺᚢᛊ
Chapter 6 — ᛊᚾᛇᚱ
Chapter 7 — ᚢᚾᛞᚨᚱᛚᛁᚷᚱ ᛊᛏᛖᛁᚾ
Chapter 8 — TBA
Chapter 9 — TBA
Chapter 10 — TBA
Only found on Wattpad and Tumblr
Wattpad , AO3 (TBA)