Chasing Ghosts
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Trippin' by Builder for Mohini
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
24 Mar 2019
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Summary
James isn’t sure when the cross-country road trip became a good idea, or who thought it up in the first place. Tasha’s twitchy smile with the exacerbated dimple leaves him suspicious that she’s behind the whole thing. He isn’t inclined to go along with her crazy plans; they don’t tend to turn out well for him. Or for her, really, but it’s not his place to judge.
Series
- Part 1 of Chasing Ghosts
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Moving Tasha by Builder for Mohini
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
24 Mar 2019
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Summary
James grabs two boxes from a pile. He tucks one under his good arm easily, then manhandles the second between his body and his stump with the prosthesis supporting beneath. Tasha makes to copy him with grace, but she stumbles slightly under the weight.
“Put one back,” James grunts, hefting a box and squinting down at the squiggle of sharpie decrying its contents. Stuff, the box says. Though James is positive he can see a 10 lb weight and a power strip in the gap between the tape and the cardboard.
“No.” Of course she refuses. James couldn’t have expected anything different. He’s mostly glad Steve isn’t there to manhandle her any more than strictly necessary. He should know better than to tell her what to do, but that doesn’t keep him from trying.
Series
- Part 2 of Chasing Ghosts
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“I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but--” What is she going to say? No? Stop making a pass at me, you disgusting older man?
“No.” The teacher says, beating her to it. He makes a calm down motion, as if that’s going to help. “It’s a job. You know, work for pay?”
“Yeah,” Tasha replies. “And that’s illegal.”
“Oh, no, sweetheart.” The teacher scrubs his hand over his beard and squeezes his eyes shut. “No. Nothing like that. It’s community dance theater, and I have a piece in the spring showcase. Someone got injured. I need a body. That’s all.”
Series
- Part 3 of Chasing Ghosts
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If you want to destroy my sweater (or my history midterm) by Builder for Mohini
Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America (Movies)
07 Jul 2019
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Summary
Tasha’s too smart to leave out a bottle or any other evidence and too guarded to tell him what she’s taken if he asks. Instead he bites his lip and inquires, “How much?” as he crosses the living room and flops down at her side.
“I don’t know. Not too much.” Tasha’s eyes slowly focus to meet James, then slide toward crossed again.
It’s an outright lie and they both know it, but James still whispers, “Right.” He tries again. “How long you been sleepy?” He does the math in his head. There’s no way she could be this out of it unless she’d doped up before he and Steve left. James curses himself for not seeing the signs.
Tasha shrugs. Of course she does. She doesn’t care.
She is trembly, though. And looks like she’s about to cry. Maybe throw up. James knows he can’t leave her like this, so he grunts, “Alright. Move,” and uses his chin and one knee to direct her toward the corner of the sofa.
Series
- Part 4 of Chasing Ghosts
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The trickiest thing is the nature of man, apparent in everything by Builder for Mohini
Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Captain America (Movies)
09 Aug 2019
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James spits and clears his throat, giving up on decorum entirely. A wave of dizziness assaults him, and he rests his forehead against the cold whitewashed cinderblock. If his face wasn’t ashen, he’s sure it would be bright red with embarrassment. It’s something little kids do, vomiting all over the floor at school. By the middle grades they learn to make it to the nurse or dash into the bathroom before anything makes a reappearance, And by college it’s not supposed to happen at all.
Series
- Part 5 of Chasing Ghosts
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Summary
James hasn’t slept.
The first night, Steve dismisses it and gives him a backrub.
The second night, they learn an awful lot about the mating rituals of some tiny little bird that lives in Africa and Steve’s already forgotten the name of.
The third night, they go to Waffle House. On the fourth, Steve threatens to take him to the hospital.
“You can’t live like this, Buck,” He sighs and reaches for James’s hand across the laminate countertop. “You can’t just…give up sleeping.”
James shrugs. “‘S not so bad.”
Series
- Part 6 of Chasing Ghosts
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It don't take a word by Builder
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
18 Jan 2020
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“What spooked you?”
James sighs and gives in to a heave before he answers. He doesn’t want to talk about it, but she deserves an answer. A few words, at least.
“Somebody coming out a door too fast. In my face.” James hacks and gags himself accidentally. “Hit a little, uh, too close to, well, uh…”
“Far away from home?” Tasha finishes
“Yeah, that.”
Series
- Part 7 of Chasing Ghosts
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In, out, and under by Builder
Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America (Movies)
21 Feb 2020
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Tasha’s eyes choose that moment to start leaking. She tries to feign a gag as cover, but it turns real as soon as she positions herself back over the bin. She doesn’t want to explain it, and she can’t, really. Nothing in particular is wrong, except that she’s coming down from a high that wasn’t that good to begin with. But that barely counts.
No, nothing is wrong. It’s just that everything feels all wrong, her body too loose, the apartment too big, too easy to get lost in. Hence her current position.
________________________
Or, Tasha needs rescuing from under the kitchen sink
Series
- Part 8 of Chasing Ghosts
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Off to the races by Builder
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
19 Jun 2020
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Summary
“You’re seriously selling me drugs?” Steve can’t decide if he’s taken aback, or accepting this as the norm. It’s Tasha through and through. But how should he answer? What does that make him?
“Oh, they’re free,” Tasha replies. “Unless you feel like putting some change in the coffer for the next round.”
“Eh, I’ll think about it. I don’t carry cash most days.”
“Whatevs.” Tasha shrugs. “You taking, or not? I have a nice daydream to get back to.”
Elementary school slogans and DARE lessons play through Steve’s head. ‘Just say. no to drugs,’ and all that stuff. He knows it’s bullshit; the worst that’ll happen from an overdose of cough syrup is a round with his head in the toilet. Which might very well happen anyway, if he leaves his headache untreated. He bites his lip and stares at the little bottles for a moment before slowly nodding. “Sure. Why not?”
Series
- Part 9 of Chasing Ghosts
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Summary
When Friday night arrives and Tasha still hasn’t emerged from her room, James decides to venture in and see what’s gone amiss.
Series
- Part 10 of Chasing Ghosts
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Tasha shrugs. “I won’t puke.”
“Liar."
“For a while, at least.”
“Right.” James takes the empty water bottle from Tasha’s hands and scoops her up round the waist. “Come on. You’re sleeping in the big bed tonight.”
“But... Steve...” Tasha drunkenly complains. “And your special night.”
“We’ll reschedule,” James says, leading her across the hall. Then, “Sorry, Stevie. We’ve got a guest. Please tell me you have clothes on.”
Series
- Part 11 of Chasing Ghosts
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Steve pulls the brush through a few more times. Then he asks, “You ever think about getting a trim? Taking off an inch or something?”
“Nope,” James answers automatically. “Not a chance.”
____________________Or, the story of Bucky's hair.
Series
- Part 12 of Chasing Ghosts
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Summary
Tasha's addiction is out in the open. James doesn't want to admit that maybe he still has one as well.
Series
- Part 13 of Chasing Ghosts
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 1,511
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Kudos:
- 37
- Hits:
- 671
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Some things never change by Builder
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Black Widow (Movie 2021)
10 Aug 2021
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Series
- Part 14 of Chasing Ghosts
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Lightning in a bottle by Builder
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies)
14 Aug 2021
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Summary
James is up till three waiting for Tasha to come home. Steve made it to two-thirty before he fell asleep on the couch. James watches his chest rise and fall enviously, wishing he could join Steve in dreamland. But no, he must stay up, acting the sentinel and the good big brother.
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Or, James's prosthetic arm is great for caring for Tasha. Until it isn'tSeries
- Part 15 of Chasing Ghosts
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The talk by Builder
Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Captain America (Movies)
19 Aug 2021
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Summary
Tasha screws up her eyes. "I mean... I'm bleeding."
The cogs continue to turn in James's head, and just as he lands on an answer, Steve gives up, shaking his head and saying, "I don't get it."
"Fuck you," Tasha mumbles. "Both of you." She turns and starts to head back down the hallway.
"Tash." James jumps to his feet, his algebra book falling to the floor.
"You guys are fucking gay..."
"Hey!" Steve interjects.
James flaps his hand at Steve to shut him up. "Maybe we're gay, but I'm your big brother." He shoots a quick glance at Steve, hoping this won't surpass his no privacy promise. They've done some pretty wild stuff together: partying, puking, cleaning the carpet... Period talk shouldn't be too far out of their wheelhouse. At least, not if Tasha wants to talk about it.
Series
- Part 16 of Chasing Ghosts
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To all a good (Halloween) night by Builder
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
07 Nov 2021
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Summary
“Uh…?” Tasha hesitates. She seems unsure if she should stand her ground or save time and just cave.
“That–” James’s voice cracks as he reaches across to rescue the pumpkin spice bottle, “–is not yours.”
“Oh, good.” Tasha smacks her lips. “Didn’t taste like mine.”
Series
- Part 17 of Chasing Ghosts
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Instruction 3b Cut away main parachute before deploying reserve by Builder
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
29 May 2022
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Tasha'd been, oh, twelve, maybe, when they'd been at a quintuple birthday bash at the local bowling alley. It was for a younger kid from their house, all James remembers about him now was a penchant for eating glue, and, of course, being the nexus of the debacle to follow. It was a baby party. They were not allowed to bring their own food, and the kitchen staff produced such awful replicas of pizza and cake that James began to wonder what would happen if one took a screwdriver to the machine that dispensed pokemon stickers. Tasha was nowhere to be found, until it was time to leave, and James found a brick holding open an alarmed door just a crack. He'd pushed it wide, enjoying the satisfying creak, until the silhouettes in the corner of the room split apart and he could see David Bandino, their next-door-neighbor, who had no reason to be at the party anyway, pulling his hand out of Tasha's training bra.
Series
- Part 18 of Chasing Ghosts
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 1,774
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Kudos:
- 28
- Hits:
- 405
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Don't be scared of me; just take care of me by Builder
Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America - All Media Types, Captain America (Movies)
25 Sep 2024
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Summary
The hairs on the back of James’s neck stand up. He’s been that guy, that public servant, exchanging in verbal conflict.
...
The memories are hazy, and James works hard to keep them that way, he’s been that guy too. Losing his everloving shit at very inconvenient time and place. Before the PTSD diagnosis, before they took away his license, before even the first dose of Prozac, James had been a danger to himself as well as a danger to the public.Series
- Part 19 of Chasing Ghosts
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Summary
“Nothing.” There’s the attitude again, plus a hefty dose of irritation. Or maybe it’s aggravation? James tries not to think of her as the moody teenager she is. They’re both just people. Equitable, though differently experienced.
“Nothing. Really?”
Tasha pauses halfway down the hall. She sighs and places a hand on the wall. James automatically assumes a stance to catch her if she falls backward. If she nosedives, though, she’s on her own.
“Are you going to pass out?” James isn’t sure why he asks. Tasha will deny it either way. It feels more polite though, rather than just putting a hand on her.
“‘M fine.” Tasha cocks her hip, then scrubs her face with a closed fist. A sound of disgust escapes her lips. She snuffles, then rubs her hand hard against her skirt.
James can’t tell what she’s wiping off. Her face is still turned away, and her black leather miniskirt betrays nothing. Neither does their current conversation.
“Did you already puke?” James asks. “Bile in your nose?”
Series
- Part 20 of Chasing Ghosts
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 1,272
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Kudos:
- 7
- Hits:
- 135