i never knew i needed witch!nat til now & i love it!
Hey! For the request thing, Nat x Reader if you’re able to of course. But also you should focus on your school work lol
“Flowers have become so rare that they are the most sought after items in the world, enough so that people have gone crazy trying to duplicate them. Reader just stumbled across a natural rose and possibly the love of their life.”
pairing: Natasha Romanoff x fem reader
word count: 6.4k
warnings: none, lmk if i need to add any!
A/N: ngl this was really fun to write and i'm actually kinda proud of it! but i have a feeling it might not have been exactly what anon had in mind but i hope you enjoy anyway! :D
"Please, at least consider it," you begged the man.
"If you think that's gonna make money, you're out of your mind," he replied, shoving past you.
You grabbed his wrist, pulling back to force him to look at you.
"You can't know that for sure,"
"To take that risk, I'd have to stop selling items I know do well. Sorry, Y/N, but it's not worth it. You're not worth it,"
"Please," you begged again. "I can barely make ends meet as it is, I'll lose everything,"
He turned away, refusing to look at you.
"I'm sorry, but my answer stands."
Before you could say anything else, he left the room.
You could feel tears bubbling up in your eyes, but you couldn't cry here, you wouldn't.
You grabbed your bag, then ran out the back door. You kept running out of the marketplace, away from all the surrounding noise.
You weren't even sure where you were going, all you knew was that you wanted to get away.
So you kept going. You went past the familiar river that flowed near the town, you went past the rock field you had gone to so many times, you even went beyond the trees everyone was warned not to go past.
By now, your cheeks were completely wet from how much you had cried. You wiped your eyes, clearing your vision as you finally allowed yourself to take a deep breath in.
You reached in your bag, pulling out the very same thing that got you yelled at earlier today.
Flowers have become so rare that they are the most sought after items in the world, enough so that people have gone crazy trying to duplicate them.
So, you decided to decorate rocks to look like flowers. You had spent hours breaking some, moving the crystals inside to another, making them look like flower decorations.
Because of how rare flowers were, many people were fine settling for fake flower decorations. So when you had discovered the rock field, you thought it would be a perfect idea to use them for flower decorations.
But now, that proved to be a terrible idea. Not only had you wasted your time and energy but now you had lost your chance and getting any money this month.
So you grabbed one of the rocks, feeling your breathing become heavy. A few more tears formed in your eyes as the reality of the situation hit you.
Without thinking clearly, you threw the rock as hard as you could in front of you. You let out a loud scream, falling to your knees as you buried your face in your hands.
Immediately, you regretted it. So you stood up, running in the direction you threw it. Your eyes scanned the ground around you, but you couldn't find anything.
"Oh come on," you squeaked out, feeling your breath catch in your throat as you tried to hold back more tears.
You kept walking forward, clutching your bag as you looked for the rock. You sniffled, trying to get rid of the tears so you could see properly.
As soon as you opened your eyes again, you noticed a flash of red in the corner of your eye.
You tried to take a step closer, but ended up slipping as soon as you did.
The ground was uneven, so you ended up rolling down a dirt hill. As soon as you hit the bottom, you let out a sigh of relief.
You saw the red again.
It was a rose.
You had just stumbled upon a natural, real, rose bush.
You got to your knees, leaning forward to take a closer look. Just as you were about to touch one, your soul nearly left your body at the new noise behind you.
"I had a feeling someone would fall victim to that hill one day,"
You stood up, turning around to face the new voice.
Standing there was probably the most beautiful woman you had ever seen. Her red hair fell perfectly down her shoulders, and her green eyes looked as if they were sparkling in the light.
Your mouth was open, but nothing came out. She chuckled, walking over to you.
"Oh, you poor thing, you're hurt,"
Still, you couldn't say anything to this woman.
She hummed, reaching behind you towards the rose bush. You gasped again as she pulled one of the roses from the plant, holding it by the stem.
"Come along, I'll get you all fixed up,"
You didn't know what to say, but you followed her nonetheless. She continued humming as she walked forward. She played with the rose in her hands, still humming to herself.
After a few more minutes of walking, she waved her hands in the air as she muttered something under her breath.
Just then, as if it was materializing, a cottage appeared in front of her.
Once again, your jaw dropped as you stared in shock.
The witch turned back to look at you, chuckling at your shocked expression.
"Come on, we need to go inside and then I'll heal you,"
Once again, you weren't sure what to say but followed her anyway.
She waved her hand, causing the front door to open for both of you. As soon as you were both inside, she flicked her hand the opposite direction to close it.
She waved her hand again, muttering quietly as the candles lit up so you were no longer in the dark.
The redheaded witch motioned for you to sit down at the kitchen table while she stood by the stove, getting the cauldron ready.
After a few moments of silence, she looked you in the eye.
"So, you wanna tell me what happened?"
You brought your hands to your lap, fiddling with your fingers as you finally managed to speak to her.
"I made these flower decorations out of rocks, and I asked if they could be sold at the marketplace. But I was told they wouldn't make any money, so I ran out. And then I just kept going, and ended up here,"
She nodded, pouring something into the cauldron.
"How come it's so important to sell the flower decorations?" She asked.
You scoffed, feeling your cheeks heat up.
"Well not everyone lives in a cottage they can make appear with the flick of their wrist. Some of us are struggling to get by, you know" you told her, louder than intended. "Some of us can't just magic everything better!"
She raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as you continued on.
"SOMETIMES THERE'S UNIMAGINABLE EFFORT JUST TO LIVE!"
You really didn't want to cry in front of the witch, but here you were anyway.
"I'm sorry..." you mumbled, crossing your arms as if to hug yourself.
Her gaze softened, but she stayed where she was. She took the rose, and snapped the stem off of it. She dropped the stem into the cauldron, putting the flower part on the counter.
She then mixed everything together, almost ignoring your presence for a few moments.
Once it had bubbled just once, she turned the stove off and poured it into a glass. She then walked over to you, carrying both the glass and the rose. After setting them both in front of you, she sat across from you at the table.
"What is it?" You asked, tilting your head to the side.
"Healing potion," she replied, pushing it closer to you. "Drink it, it'll help,"
You hesitated for a moment, then you looked into her bright green eyes. You saw the way she was staring at you, so you eventually gave in and drank it.
"Not every day I accept a drink from a witch," you mumbled, prompting her to smirk. "Especially a witch who I don't even know her name,"
"Natasha," she replied. "And it's not every day I offer my potions to someone who fell down the dirt hill. Especially when I don't know her name either,"
You chuckled at her mockery,
"Y/N,"
She nodded before folding her hands together and placing them on the table.
"So, Natasha," you began. "How long is this healing potion supposed to take?"
She rolled her eyes at your impatience,
"It shouldn't be longer than 15 minutes, then you can get back to whatever it is you were doing with your flower decorations,"
It was then that you remembered how you fell down the hill in the first place. You were still carrying your bag, but as you looked in it, they were all gone; they must have fallen out when you fell.
Tears bubbled in your eyes once again as the fact that you now had nothing fell upon you.
"What's wrong?" Natasha asked, noticing the tears.
"I lost them," you told her. "I was looking for one, then I lost the rest. I know I couldn't sell that at the marketplace, but maybe there was someone who would buy them somewhere. But now they're gone,"
She pushed the rose closer to you.
"I'm not sure how much comfort it would provide, but would you like this rose?"
Your eyes widened; you couldn't believe she was offering you the rarest item in the world. You could probably be set off from this one alone.
"Really?" You asked, your voice going higher.
"Under one condition,"
You nodded excitedly, already feeling the riches that would come from this.
"That you don't sell it,"
"What?" You asked, your face dropping.
She nodded,
"Those are my terms,"
You thought for a moment. It wasn't like you were ever going to see her again. She was a witch who lived in the woods for goodness sake.
She would never know if you sold it or not.
"Deal."
Your lips twitched into a smirk. You took the rose, carefully holding it close.
"Thank you for everything, Natasha,"
She nodded.
"Is your leg feeling better?"
You stood up, carefully putting your weight on it. Her potion worked; it didn't hurt anymore.
As you began making your way to the door, she stopped you.
"Wait," she said. "It's too dark for you to make your way back on your own."
You open your mouth to respond, but stopped yourself as she muttered a spell. Her gaze shifted towards the candles, where one of the flames rose into the air, getting brighter. She guided it through the air until it was floating over you.
"It'll stay in front of you until you blow it out."
"Thanks," you said.
So, you waved goodbye to her then walked out the door. As promised, the flame followed you, providing both light and warmth as you made your way back into the woods.
Now, all you had to do was sell the rose and never see the witch again.
-
The next day, you woke up and the rose was still just as beautiful as it was the day before.
All you had to do was sell it at the marketplace, and you would be set for life.
So, you held it close to your chest as you made your way down. You knew everyone would freak out once they saw it, so you tucked it under your jacket as you entered the crowd of people.
You quickly entered the tent where you could present ideas, finding your place in line.
You could feel your heart racing as you thought about what would happen when you presented the rose. You would never have to spend hours making something just for it to not sell again. Hell, you'd never have to sell again.
Excitement bubbled in your chest as the line short shorter and shorter. Now, there were only three people in front of you and then you could sell your rose.
But you promised Natasha you wouldn't.
A pang of guilt struck you as you thought back to last night.
She had no reason to help you, yet she did. She healed you, provided you light on your way home, and gave you a rose. Which she told you not to sell.
Now there were only two people in front of you.
But she had an entire rose bush that probably had hundreds of roses on it. Why would it matter if just one was sold?
The line moved again, there was just one person in front of you.
You were on the brink of getting so much money, yet you were so hesitant.
You thought about the way her green eyes looked at you when she found you. She seemed so happy to take you to her little cottage and heal you. She could've just left you there. But instead she healed you, and gave you a light to get home.
Now, you were the front of the line.
The same man who sent you running out in tears yesterday was staring at you, eyebrows raised.
"Yes?"
You reached into your jacket, grabbing the rose. As your hand touched the petals, her eyes flashed in your mind once again.
She saved you in the woods, the least you could do was keep your promise.
"Never mind, um, I'm sorry, I gotta go,"
You stepped out of the line, placing the rose back inside your jacket pocket. Much like yesterday, you ran out of the room to get away from all the people.
You quickly exited the marketplace in of itself, running down the same path you ran down the day before.
You could hardly believe what was happening as you passed the same river, and then the rock field.
By the time you entered the woods again, you pulled the rose out. You stopped for a few moments to catch your breath, admiring the rose.
Soon enough, you started running again. You searched and searched for the familiar rose bush, but you couldn't find anything.
You looked up, feeling yourself panicking as you realized you had no idea where you were in the woods.
"Natasha!" You called out. Nothing.
You kept looking around, just hoping to see that familiar flash of red. But still, nothing.
"Natasha!" You called again.
Of course that witch just had to make her house in the woods invisible.
You looked all around you, desperate to find anything that could lead to Natasha.
Your breathing quickened as you kept turning in circles. At this point, you weren't sure if you'd even be able to make it home.
Just as you were about to call her name again, you recognized her red hair behind some trees a ways ahead.
You let out a sigh of relief, running over to her.
"Natasha!" You said as you finally reached her.
She was standing by a berry bush, carefully picking them off and placing them in the basket she was holding.
"Oh hello, Y/N,"
"I've been looking all over for you," you told her, a little out of breath.
She hummed, keeping her focus on the berries.
"Since you're here, would you mind helping me? I'm going to cook with these for the next few days, and you'd be more than welcome to join me for lunch,"
You nodded, hesitantly standing next to her. She handed her second basket to you, then kept picking away.
Without saying anything else to you, she kept humming that familiar tune. Before you knew it, she was mumbling under her breath too,
"Good girls, hopeful they'll be, and long they will wait,"
You tilted your head to the side, trying to make sense of the words.
She noticed this, finally shifting her focus to you.
"It's from a song," she told you.
"Where did you hear it?" You asked.
"A few decades ago, give or take. I was traveling, and heard the most beautiful singing voice. So I listened every night. I still think those songs are a gift to the world to this day,"
You nodded, picking the berries once again.
"Distance, timing, breakdown, fighting, silence, the train runs off its tracks,"
You smiled, trying to memorize the lyrics. She said nothing, but continued on as she picked the berries.
Soon enough, both your baskets were full. You followed her, trying to take notice of where you were in the woods before she would do her magic thing to make her place visible.
There were three pine trees pressed close together, surrounded by taller trees. On the ground was animal tracks, along with fallen leaves.
When she led you back into her house, you followed her in placing your basket on the counter. From there, she pulled out a few other baskets full of ingredients.
"Is soup for lunch okay with you?" She asked.
"Sure,"
Instead of waiting for her at the table, you stood next to her by the stove as she started cooking.
Suddenly remembering why you came to visit, you pulled out the rose she had given you.
"How come you asked me not to sell this?" You asked.
Natasha raised her eyebrows, keeping her focus on the soup. In fact, it almost felt like she was ignoring you for a moment. You opened your mouth, about to ask her again in case she didn't hear you, but she held her hand up to stop you.
So you sighed in defeat, making your way to the table where you sat in the same spot as before.
A few minutes later, she came over with two bowls. She set one down in front of you, and the other across from you where she sat.
You were about to say something, but she started speaking first.
"Money is a strange thing," she started. "I never understood why people put so much value into something that does nothing for you."
"I mean I guess but-" you started, but she cut you off.
"I was there before flowers were as rare as they are now. I loved them, I always have. Roses were always my favorite," she explained to you.
You had some of your soup, which was surprisingly really good before she continued on.
"As they became rare, I saw how they were traded for worthless coins and such, and it made no sense to me. Nothing as beautiful as a rose should be traded for something that does nothing for you."
You shrugged, having more of your soup.
"I've lived on my own without money for a long time, Y/N."
"Well yeah, but you have magic,"
This time, she shrugged. You were right, it was much easier for her to survive without money when she could cast spells and make potions.
"I was so sure that you'd sell the rose," she admitted.
"I almost did," you confessed, prompting her to raise an eyebrow. "But then I decided not to go back on my word, even if it could set me for life,"
She smiled, looking you in the eye.
"Well, I appreciate that you didn't sell it. I know it must have been tempting, but you did keep your word. For that I thank you,"
You smiled, feeling your cheeks heat up at the way her eyes shone in the light.
By the time you finished your soup, she waved her hand so it would levitate towards the sink and start washing itself. You chuckled.
"I have a question," you told her.
She nodded, waving her hand for you to continue.
"If I were to look for you again... is there any way I could find you easier?"
Her lips curled into a smirk, and you could've sworn she blushed for a moment.
She took the rose she had given you, waving her hand over it before whispering something. She then handed it back to you, a smile on her face.
"Now, as long as you have this rose, you'll always be able to find me."
-
Natasha was right. Three days later, you decided to visit her again. As you walked through the woods, you noticed the rose began glowing and got warmer as you went in a certain direction.
Soon enough, you recognized the three pine trees.
"Natasha!" You called, knowing she was nearby.
It felt as if the air changed in front of you, but soon enough the familiar cottage became visible to you.
You walked up to the front door, and you weren't quite sure what to do. She knew you were here, or she wouldn't have lifted the invisibility spell for you. But at the same time, it still felt rude not to knock.
While you were still deciding what to do, the door opened on its own.
"Hello, Y/N," she greeted you from the kitchen.
"Hi," you replied, waving to her.
She dropped the spoon she was holding, but it kept stirring for her as she turned around to face you.
"What brings you here today?"
"I wanted to see you,"
She turned back around, taking hold of the spoon as she couldn't stop herself from smiling. Of course, her cheeks turned bright red as well, but she refused to face you again until they returned to their normal color.
"Perfect, I was planning on collecting stones from the stream. Would you like to join me?"
You nodded, feeling your own smile grow.
She then made her way over to you, waving her hand so two cloth bags began floating towards the two of you. You took one, and she took the other.
From there, you followed her back into the woods.
"So what do you need the stones for?" You asked, catching up so you were by her side now.
"They're useful for protection spells,"
"Protection from what?"
Natasha laughed, shaking her head. You raised your eyebrows in response, causing her to laugh even more.
"Well, it wouldn't be a good idea to leave myself exposed where anyone could find me, right?"
You shrugged; she was right.
"So the spells wear off over time then?"
"Yes, and this one wears off faster the more I remove the cloak. Which I've had to do a lot lately, considering I have a frequent visitor,"
You felt your cheeks heat up again, quickly shifting your gaze to the ground.
"Oh," you said. "Sorry,"
She chuckled,
"I never said I minded,"
You smiled. Just as you were about to say something else, you heard the sound of rushing water coming from in front of you.
"Here we are,"
She took her shoes off, stepping into the water. She motioned for you to follow, which you did.
"We're looking for the ones with a purple tint," the witch told you.
You nodded, then began looking down at the rocks in the water. You stepped to the side, so your shadow wouldn't block the tint from the sun.
You picked up a stone, carefully placing it into your bag.
"Can I ask you something?" You started.
"Alright,"
"Are there like... witch covens or something like that?"
She laughed, putting a few stones in her bag.
"Sure there are, but I've never been apart of one. The closest I've been to that was working closely with one other witch. It didn't work out though. None of my spells were working, and then I realized that it was her. I realized it's been her messing up everything, almost as if she were pulling every string. It's been her all along,"
You tilted your head to the side, shifting your attention from the stones to Natasha.
"Do you like being alone?"
She thought for a moment, her cheeks turning red.
"Yes," she told you, avoiding eye contact.
You weren't quite sure why, but your heart dropped.
"Oh..." you replied, unsure what else to say.
So, you went back to helping the witch collect her stones.
-
It was another week before you visited her again. Like before, the rose led you to her.
When the door opened, she was sitting at the table absentmindedly.
"I was wondering when you were gonna come back," she said, staring up at you.
You smiled, shrugging.
"So, are there berries to be picked or stones to be collected?" You asked her.
She shook her head no as a smile crept onto her face.
"There's something else I want to do with you,"
"Alrighty, what is it?"
Natasha stood up, making her way through the hallways and to her own bedroom. Once she came back out, she was holding a pair of boots that seemed to have something metal around them.
"You'll need to wear these," she told you.
You were hesitant, but you trusted her. So you sat down, changing your shoes while she searched through the drawers of her kitchen.
By the time you got the boots on, she had come back, holding what seemed to be a water bottle of sorts.
"I'll need you to drink this," she told you.
Once again, you were a bit hesitant but ended up drinking it anyways.
When you finished, she held her hands out to pull you up.
"You good?" She asked.
When you nodded, her smile widened.
So then, she led you back to the woods. The boots made it a little harder to walk, so you grabbed her hand.
She didn't say anything, but her cheeks did turn a slight shade of red.
You were about to say something about the boots when she stopped in her tracks.
"We're here,"
"What?"
Where exactly was here? As far as you were concerned, you were still in the middle of the woods with no berries or streams nearby.
Natasha let out a small laugh, looking up at the trees. She pointed too, indicating for you to look as well.
As you did, you noticed something at the top of the trees.
"What is it?" You asked, to which she smirked.
She let go of your hand, then flicked her wrist. Much to your surprise, she began floating in the air.
When your jaw dropped, she only chuckled as she flew in circles around you. To be fair, considering all the other magic stuff she's done you shouldn't have been that surprised.
"Take the boots off," she told you.
You were a little nervous as to what was going to happen, but you took them off anyway.
When you began floating, you held your hand over your mouth to stop yourself from screaming. What was in that potion she gave you?
Natasha saw your fear, so she flew closer to you, connecting your hands.
"What is this?" You asked, your voice shaking.
She leaned up against you from behind, wrapping her arms around your waist.
"It's okay," she whispered into your ear. "You're okay,"
Your breathing began to even out, and you finally opened your eyes again.
Once she noticed you weren't as scared anymore, she flew up higher, still holding your hand.
By the time you reached the top of the tree, it seemed as if she had put a hammock there. She then sat down, pulling you next to her.
When you laid back, you turned to face her, prompting her to lift a leg over yours so you wouldn't float away.
"So you've made me weightless to get to the top of a tree?" You asked.
"Well, it's dangerous to use spells to lift more than one living thing at a time. It's okay though, it'll wear off soon,"
You nodded, adjusting yourself so you were even closer to her to feel safe.
By now, your noses were almost touching as she reached her hand back to stroke your hair.
"What else do you use roses for?" You asked her.
"Well, they are useful for spells of course." She started. "But they're also useful for finding beautiful girls like you,"
Now, you felt blood rushing to your cheeks at her words.
"I'm glad you have them," you said, smiling.
"Me too,"
You weren't sure how long you were up there with her, but you felt freer than you'd ever been. You brought a hand up to her cheek, slowly rubbing your thumb against her skin. She smiled at your touch, her green eyes never leaving yours.
By the time it started to get dark, you didn't feel quite as floaty anymore. You even tested it out, and you didn't float into the air when she let go of you.
So, she picked you up into her arms and carried you bridal style as she flew down.
"If you'd like, I can carry you all the way back if you don't want to wear the heavy shoes again,"
You nodded, prompting her smile to widen. So, you held onto her tighter as she made her way back. You knew her arms had to be getting tired, but she didn't loosen her grip once.
The sun was completely set by the time you got back, and it had gotten much colder.
"Do you want another light spell to get home?" She offered, then hesitated for a moment. "Or you can stay here for the night, so you don't have to walk at this hour,"
You felt yourself blushing at the thought, but you nodded. Soon enough, her cheeks became as red as her hair.
Natasha motioned for you to follow as she made her way to her room. Your heartbeat quickened; you had never been to this part of her house before.
Her room was pretty simple; she had a bed, along with spell and potion jars all over. And, there were several roses by her bed.
You crawled into bed, scooting over to make sure she had room. But when she only stood by the doorway, you tilted your head to the side in confusion.
"Aren't you going to sleep too?" You asked.
She shook her head no,
"I'll let you sleep alone," she said. "Don't worry about me. I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay," you replied. "Goodnight, Natasha."
"Goodnight, Y/N."
The next morning, you felt just as safe with her as you had the day before, maybe even a little more.
So when you left to go back home, you knew you'd be coming back soon.
-
As the weeks passed, you began visiting her every day. It wasn't uncommon for you to spend the night with her, even if she wouldn't sleep in the same bed with you.
Today, you were planning to go right over to her as soon as you woke up, but you noticed a letter by your front door.
Hello Y/N, I've heard that you've done work at your local marketplace, so I'd like to invite you to work for me in my accountings and transactions department. Please let me know within the next two weeks. -Steve Rogers
You could hardly believe it. You were getting a job offer! You wouldn't have to be so dependent on the marketplace anymore, you would be able to have more than just the basic necessities!
You immediately went to research Steve Rogers, reading up on everything you could find about him.
From what you found, he lived across the country and had a very successful business.
Why did he want you of all people though?
You made your way to the marketplace, running to the familiar tent. You had the letter in your hands as you pushed through all the people, wanting to get to your boss.
He chuckled as he raised an eyebrow in amusement,
"You've been recommended!" Was all he told you.
You had an actual job offer across the country. You couldn't believe it.
You made your way back home, ready to find out everything you could about working in accounting and transactions.
As you searched through the books, eager to learn, your smile began to fade. It definitely wouldn't be a job you would enjoy.
But at the same time, you needed to get out of trying to make a living at the marketplace.
Just as you were about to research more, your eyes fell upon your rose. The same rose you didn't sell, that would always lead you to Natasha.
You couldn't leave without talking to her.
You had mixed feelings as you made your way to her house in the woods. You fiddled with the rose as it led you to her. You weren't sure how you'd be able to continue to visit her once you moved.
She seemed to to sense that something was on your mind as you walked through the door, as she immediately stopped what she was doing to go over to you.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Nothing's wrong," you told her. "But I do have news to tell you,"
The witch gripped the back of the chair, raising her eyebrows to indicate for you to continue.
"I got a job offer," you told her, feeling a mix of emotions within you.
"That's exciting," she replied, loosening her grip on the chair. "What's the job?"
"I was told I would be in the accounting and transactions department,"
"Is that something you would want?"
"Well, it's a good money opportunity... so yes,"
"Well then I'm happy for you, Y/N, I really am,"
Now, your breath caught in your throat as you stared at her. She could tell there was something else.
"It's a job I'd have to move for," you said. "Like, across the country,"
It was as if the air fell silent. She whipped around, turning away from you.
"You'll be leaving here forever then?"
"Yeah..."
Natasha blinked away the tears forming in her eyes, still refusing to face you.
"You're moving across the country for a job that rewards you in something that does nothing for you?"
"I know how you feel about money, Natasha, but-"
"No, no," she cut you off. "It's your life, you get to do what you want."
Her voice cracked, and it almost sounded like she was holding back tears. You opened your mouth to say something, but she cut you off.
"You won't be needing that rose anymore,"
You held onto it tighter, but it was no use considering it appeared in her hand the moment she flicked her wrist.
"Natasha, wait-"
"No, Y/N, you better get going. You mustn't be late for your new moneymaking career,"
Now, tears began forming in your eyes. You were about to say something else, but the door opened again as she waved her hand.
"It's still light out, you'll be able to find your way back just fine."
You could hardly believe what was happening, but she simply shifted her gaze to the floor as she flicked her wrist one last time. It felt like you were hit with a gust of wind, forcing you to stumble backwards and out the door.
She was alone again.
-
Three days had passed, and all you could think about was Natasha. You were supposed to leave this evening, but your stomach was in a knot.
You tried to distract yourself by learning more about your new job, but it just wasn't interesting to you. Nothing about it made you light up.
Even though it had only been three days, you already missed Natasha.
You anxiously sat in your bedroom, replying your last moments with her in your head. You loved being with her, and you'd miss her.
But it's not like you could ignore the fact that unlike her, you do need money to survive.
So, you started packing your bag to get ready for your move. You were leaving this place.
-
As you walked to the train station, something in you felt heavy. Your hands were almost shaking with every step you took.
"Ticket, miss?" You were asked.
You looked at the train, but all you could think about was Natasha.
"Never mind, um, I'm sorry, I gotta go,"
Without another word, you ran out of the line. You kept running, finally feeling lighter.
You ran past the train station, smiling as you saw the woods up ahead of you.
By the time you were surrounded by trees, your breathing quickened again; you didn't have your rose, and you didn't know how to find Natasha when she had the spell up.
You fiddled with your fingers, feeling your heart race. Then it hit you; muscle memory.
You closed your eyes, thinking about where you were in the woods. You didn't pay attention to the trees around you, you only paid attention to where your legs were taking you.
Now, you were walking through the forest with your eyes closed, smiling widely.
You acted as if you were holding the rose, thinking about where you had to step.
You could do this.
Finally, you opened your eyes and recognized the three pine trees.
"Natasha!" You called for the witch, hoping she wasn't still mad at you.
"Natasha, please!" You called again, feeling the nerves again.
As if she heard the desperation in your voice, her house appeared before she stepped outside.
"What do you want, Y/N?"
Her eyes were green eyes didn't have the same warmth they normally had. Now, they were bloodshot and she had dark circles under them.
"I'm not taking the job," you told her, smiling once again.
"What do you mean?"
"I choose you,"
"What?"
"I choose you, Natasha,"
You took a few steps closer to her, connecting your hands to hers.
"You're right! I shouldn't sacrifice my happiness for money, especially when it's a job I don't even like! But you make me happy! I choose you,"
She could hardly believe the words coming out of your mouth. She raised one hand up to your face, gently rubbing her thumb against her cheek.
"You choose me?"
"I choose you,"
Before you knew it, you leaned forward and closed the gap between the two of you. She was surprised by this, but she gently moved her lips along yours nonetheless. You ran your hands up, letting your fingers run through her hair as you kissed her.
"Is that okay?" You asked as you finally pulled apart for air.
She was grinning at you.
Instead of replying, she grabbed your hands and kissed you again. She kept walking, forcing you to move backwards until she was pressing you up against a tree. Her tongue ran across your lips as she kept her grip on your wrists.
You smiled into the kiss, allowing yourself to get lost in the taste of her. You definitely made the right choice.
-
That day, not only did you find a natural, real rose; but the love of your life.
-
taglist: @lyak12 @thewidowsghost @Murder-is-the-solution @zombies1ayea @plasticl0ve @romanoffscottage @atlas-nex @ria900 @youreatotalposer @readings-stuff @nats-dreamland @smileyromanoff
This is my take on some marvel characters and pronouns so here me out
Wanda goes by she/they pronouns
I feel like Natasha would go by she/her BUT she also wouldn't really mind going by they/them either
Loki wouldn't mind what you call him since he's genderfluid
I feel like Peter Parker might go by he/they but idk
Michelle fucking Jones goes by she/they for sure
This is all I have atm
Maybe you’re having a stressful day. Maybe you just need a deep breath. Maybe you just didn’t realize how stressed you are. It’s okay! You deserve love and warmth in your life.
Are you comforted by words?
Here’s an Emergency Compliment
Here are some kind words you can personalize with your name
Here are 15 more emergency compliments
Here is a Self Esteem Boosting Confidence Machine
take a moment - video
believe in yourself - video
Inspiration from Jacksepticeye - PMA
encouragement from Mr. Rogers - video
you are ENOUGH - video
Do you need to hear some pleasant ambient sounds?
How about rain sounds you can customize?
You can listen to a cafe here
or how about a crackling fireplace?
ASMR? Stimming?
Soap cutting ASMR - video
more soap ASMR - video
a 4 hour ASMR video to help with sleep
ASMR face and scalp massage - video
ASMR slime - video
the most satisfying video in the world
more satisfying videos
Lora Zombie speed painting - video
Agnes Cecile speed painting - video
the fastest workers in the world - video
how candy canes are made - video
Mr. Rogers shows how crayons are made - video
How about a game or activity distraction?
Play 2048 here
A whole website of free games!
play chess against a computer
Here are some coloring pages you can do online!
Play Flow online here
here’s a game where you stretch a giraffe’s little neck to give kisses
Learn about the history of life on earth with PBS Eons
Do you need something soothing?
Control the pattern of rain here! (flashing colors warning)
try doing nothing for two minutes
Vent to a stranger online for FREE!
weavesilk, where you can create a soothing pattern
have you ever been to the nicest place on the internet?
watch Bob Ross bring joy to painting - playlist
How about a laugh?
Vines you can show your grandparents
History of the entire world, I guess
History of Japan
Rhett and Link caption fails
Thomas Sanders Vines
The Demented Cartoon Movie (warning for flashing colors)
The ASDF movie 1-11
The Horribly Slow Murderer with the Extremely Inefficient Weapon by Richard Gale (warnings for some bruises and some violence)
Rhett and Link VS Hank Green - SHUT UP AND DANCE
It’s going to be okay. Today may be the worst day of your life - but tomorrow won’t be. Life is a series of ups and downs, and that means there’s going to be good and bad. Drink some water, let yourself cry if you need to, and get a good night’s sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.
Cal : I'm extremely confused
Fez: You're confused, I'm fucking confused what the fuck are we even talking about right now?
Me : This is art pure genuine art
Hello, everyone! I will be starting a new series that will help you the writers describe emotions.
This guide will be a writer’s tool to characters expression.
This section comes from The Emotional Thesaurus by Ackerman and Puglisi.
Definition: the act of worship; to view as divine.
Note: the subject of adoration can be a person or thing
Lips parting
A slack or soft expression
Waking quickly to erase distance
Mimicking body language
Touching one’s mouth or face
Reaching out to brush, touch or grasp
Steady eye contact, large pupils
Leaning forward
Stroking one’s own neck or arm as a surrogate
Pointing one’s torsos and feet towards the subject
A flushed appearance
Nodding while the subject speaks
Smiling
Open body posture
Releasing an appreciative sigh
Laying hand over the heart
Frequently moistening lips
Pressing palms lightly against the cheeks
Skimming fingertips along the jaw lines
Eyes that are bright
Agreement
Speaking praise and compliments
Keeping trinkets, pictures of the subject
Constantly talking about the subject to others
Rapt attention, still posture
Becoming unaware of one’s environment
A radiant glow
Visible shakiness
Reduced blinking
Closing eyes to savor moment
Speak with a soft voice
A voice that cracks with emotion
Quickening heartbeat
Breathlessness
Feeling one’s pulse in throat
Mouth dry
Throat growing thick
Rising body temperature
Tingling nerve endings
A desire to move closer or watch
Fixating one’s thoughts on the subject
Acute listening and observation
Ignoring distractions
An inability to see the subjects flaws or faults
Obsession
Fantasizing
Believing that the feelings are mutual
A sense of destiny
Stalking
Writing and sending letter, emails, and gifts
Taking risks or breaking laws to be near or with subject
Weight loss
Poor sleep patterns
Jealousy towards those interacting with the subject
Taking on traits or mannerisms of the subject
Carrying something that represents the subject
Possessiveness
Love
Desire
Frustration
Hurt
Clenching or hiding one’s hands to hide sweating or shaking
Avoiding conversations about the subject
Watching or observing from afar
Staying out of subjects proximity
Blushing
Sneaking looks at subject
Creating chance run ins
Writing secret letters, keeping diary
Lying about one’s feelings regarding the subject
Body cues should create a strong mental picture. If the movement is too drawn out or complicated, the emotional meaning behind the gesture may be lost.
Have Mercy | natasha romanoff x black!fem!oc
Chapter One: in or out?
pairings: natasha romanoff x fem!black!oc
warnings: none really besides brief mentions of past trauma (barely any details of it tho)
a/n: here we go. this isn't edited yet so if there's any errors im sorry in advance.
have mercy masterlist chapter two
"Absolutely not," Jaslyn cuts her brother off long before he even gets the chance to speak. Turning around, she walks back inside her house towards the kitchen. The sound of the front door echoes through the halls. And heavy footsteps follow behind.
"Oh, come on! You don't even know what I was gonna ask," Sam exclaims. Walking up beside her, Sam brings his hand up to ruffle her hair, knowing how much the action annoyed her. "What if I just wanted to check on my baby sis, huh?"
She hisses. Smacking his hand away before brushing her hair down. "I hate it when you do that shit. And you know if that were the case, you would've hit me up ahead of time, not just pop up at my door unannounced," Jaslyn points out.
"Okay, sure, but–"
"Also, this has been the second time since I got back from Rio with Redwing that this happened."
"Please, Jas," Sam begs. "I need your help with this one."
Jaslyn would do anything for Sam. It didn't matter how much he'd asked of her. She would go through the depths of Hell if he asked her to. Sam would do the same for her. They were the definition of 'ride or die.' Their loyalty to each other has never been doubted. They may not have been fully blood related, but that never mattered to any of them. Jaslyn was just as much as his sister as Sarah was. They were his family.
Still silent, Sam took that as his chance to explain what was going on. "It's Hydra. They're back and have gotten worse. There's this guy; they call him the Winter Soldier." His gaze was disquieting as he spoke.
Her blood runs cold. No. No, no, no.
Sam continues to debrief her, yet Jaslyn could not register another word after that.
Winter never made it out?
She remembers her time in that dreadful place where Hydra claimed to be her new home. The screams. The torture. The constant state of numbness. And constraint of fear and brainwashing snatching you back. Hydra had turned them into fearful creatures. Monsters. She'd gotten out a couple years ago; however, the gushing red of her victims still dripped from her hands. It still tormented her mind just the same. She’s made a lot of progress in the past couple of years.
During her time at Hydra, she met Winter. She never knew what his real name was, neither did he. So, she chose to refer to him as Winter. They supported each other.
Winter never got out.
"Jas...? Jaslyn!" She hums in response. "You're crying," Sam whispers. His eyes are filled with guilt. He told Fury that she wouldn't want any part of this. Hell, Sam didn't want to include her in this either. No matter how much they needed her.
She didn't notice the tears streaming down her face until she felt Sam's thumbs wipe them away. "I'm sorry. I knew I shouldn't have come. I told Fury this was a bad idea to try and rope you back into all this."
She shakes her head as she looks at him with sadden eyes. "It's not your fault, okay?"
"I could have tried harder. I–"
"You did everything you could, Sammy..." With that, the two are silent. Sam takes his sister in his embrace, holding her tight as though she would disappear out of his hold at any second. The two sway for awhile before Jaslyn breaks the silence.
"I'm sorry, Sammy. I can't. Not after what happened with–" the rest of her sentence gets caught in her throat. Suddenly she was thirsty. Quickly, she moves from his hold and grabs bottled water out of the refrigerator. She gulps the liquid down in a hectic manner. She doesn't let up until there isn't a drop left. Her gaze is unfocused as she leans against the counter. She was a mess.
"Come on. Let's get you back to your room." Sam gently guides her down the hall toward her bedroom. Going inside, he assists her underneath the sheets and tucks her in. Sam gives her a feathered kiss on the forehead.
"There's leftover lasagna in the fridge if you want some on the way out. Tell your little redheaded friend outside she's welcome to have some, too." Taking this as his time to leave, Sam gives her a sympathetic smile before walking towards the door. "I'll be back to check on you later."
Hearing the faint click of the door locking, Jaslyn cries. "I'm sorry I'm too much of a coward to help you," she whimpers.
writing relatable characters may seem like an easy task, especially when you’re constructing your protagonist. but what if you want to make your antagonist likeable? what if you want people to hate your protagonist but still root for them? all of this and more requires that your characters be relatable. they need to feel real, so how do you do that? here’s how:
- flaws: this is probably obvious. everyone has flaws, so we should give our characters flaws, too. this applies even if your character is non-human; they cannot escape the personification that we as writers or readers project onto them. we are humans reading, so we expect to see human qualities everywhere we look. if you’re having trouble of identifying your character’s flaws, here are some prompts for ways to think about flaws beyond a list:
what skills do they lack? what do they struggle with?
can their strengths be turned against them as a weakness?
what makes them react emotionally or impulsively?
are they aware of their flaws? if so, do they want to improve them or change them?
- quirks: these are what make your character unique or special, and no, i don’t mean purple eyes or unique physical traits. i mean: what makes your character authentically themselves? what traits define them that few others have? some ways to think about this are:
how do they react when nervous? do they have a tell? similarly, how do they react on behalf of any emotion?
what skills do they have that hardly anyone else has?
what obscure thing are they obsessed with?
do they have a unique outlook on life compared to their peers?
- values: these come from life experiences: where we were raised, our family and friends, our community, religious affiliations, etc. i suggest identifying eight to ten values that define your character and then narrowing that list down to five values that mark their core or essence. think about how these values influence their choices, decisions, and ultimately, the plot of the novel. here are some more prompts to think about values:
how do they react when their values are challenged? are they one to speak up or do they sit back in the shadows?
what, if anything, will change or shatter their values?
are their actual values misaligned with their believed values?
- stakes: what is at risk for your character? what is motivating them? stakes don’t need to be over the top or life or death; they can be as simple as maintaining a relationship or reaching a goal. unless there’s an outside influence (ie. percy’s mother being kidnapped in The Lightning Thief), most stakes—especially those relatable—tie back to values. even those influenced by outside factors can tie back to values: the only reason percy is motivated to get his mother back is because he cares for her and she is the one person who has always advocated for him and cared for him. he values family and riordan uses his family to motivate him and incite the plot. generally, there will be one overarching stake for your character, but throughout your novel, there should be several smaller stakes. these may not service the plot but should elaborate on your character nonetheless. some ways to think about stakes include:
how can i use internal or external factors to create convincing, relatable stakes that tie back to basic values?
why does the overarching stake matter to my character? why do they care?
how can i raise the stakes or introduce new ones that are relevant to my character and illustrate them as a relatable being?
- connection: even if your character is an introvert, they will still be connected to someone, something, or even an idea. we, as humans, look to certain people, pets, objects, and ideas to maintain our sense of reality whether we realize it or not. if your character prides themselves in having no attachments, think about the ideas or themes that mark the cornerstones of their reality. most human beings strive for some form of connection, so here are more prompts for thinking about your characters and connection:
what does connection mean to my character? how do they show how they value their connections or relationships?
how does my character’s behavior change when around different connections?
what connections define my character and their reality? how will these connections influence my character and/or the plot?
how will removing or challenging a connection change, influence, or motivate my character?
a good rule of thumb is to treat a character as a human, not a plot device. there is a time or place in which a character must act as a plot device, but if you’re wanting your readers to be compelled by your narration and the characters within them, you should strive to write your characters as human (aka as relatable). one of the greatest pleasures i find in writing is when other’s identify themselves in my writing.
you’re not just here to tell a story, you’re here to connect with others through the illustration of your characters. let the reader navigate your prose as a detective, to search for and identify the evidence provided by you. that is to say, show us how these things manifest in your character. don’t tell us.
happy writing! hopefully this post gave you some ways to start thinking about how to show the relatability of your character. if you have any questions about implementing these tools or about writing characters, our ask box is always open.
childhood best friends to enemies to lovers has got to be the best trope to ever exist idccc
sighhhhh
Ain't nothin worse than being a hopeless romantic AND a lesbian