Bloodline

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Chapter 22: You have me at your mercy, you little minx

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Thank you everyone who reviewed. Damn, i think I gave more insights and previews in my answers than I wanted. Don't look at recent answers on AO3 if you don't want spoilers. XD

Credit for translation goes to my Russian friend again. I wrote this section of the chapter a long time ago and damn, it was hard to fit in but I think I have a proper conclusion here.

Sorry for not being able to post at Christmas. I wasn't fine with what I did. But now I am closer. Hope you enjoy.

If you find mistakes, grammar or logic, please tell me. I need the input for my audio book.

But for the long wait for this one here I give you extra length ^^

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Clint's mood had lifted once he had gotten Natasha's confession. Chances were high his bet with Sam would turn out in his favor. The weird couple had until the end of the week before he would lose. He came back to the lab to share the news. "Nat's okay. Just a bit jumbled. She's wasting a few bullets on paper targets. So there shouldn't be any threat to us."

Tony nodded in agreement. "Jarvis, keep tabs on her."

"Yes, Sir." The AI announced.

Clint turned towards Steve and Bucky behind the glass walls. "What are they talking about?"

"Probably how to court a woman going by Rogers' flushed cheeks." Tony put on a mock-angry face. "You know it's unfair to cheat in a bet, right? No outside influence."

"Well, since you said they would end up in bed last week, you already lost. Now it's between Wilson and me." Stakes were high and he wanted to win.

"Chatting with Red about sex with Winter is still cheating. You only want them to start fucking within this week so you tried to talk her into it."

"No, I think I did the exact opposite." Clint mumbled.

"Oh, so you DID cheat." Tony pointed his finger at him.

Clint made a defensive gesture. "Wasn't my intention. I just can't stand the two lovebirds drooling over one another all the time."

"Yeah, they really should get over with it, fast." The mechanic grunted in annoyance.

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The Captain blushed at the question and started biting his lip. "Which answer do you want? The one from me as a friend, as Captain America or as a normal man?"

Barnes chuckled. "All of them so I can take my pick?"

Steve sighed. "As a friend of the two of you I can only urge you to explore the relationship further. You are both fucked up."

"Language." Bucky threw in and earned a raised eyebrow from Steve.

"You have been toyed with and used in more ways than I can even imagine. And you both deserve the happiness you can give each other. You fit, like a puzzle." With the similarities in their past they could help one another. Natasha was already further along her road of redemption and able to guide him on the right path as well, making it easier for him. Especially since she had forgiven him for what he had done to her.

Barnes couldn't deny the truth in these words so he only nodded and urged him to continue.

"As the Captain, well..." He put on his most stoic expression which instantly crumbled. "Make her an honest woman and take care of your family. You are not out of the woods yet. HYDRA might still be after your son. As your Captain I would ask you to join me on my path of getting rid of the evil so your family can live in peace. Two men against the monsters of the world so that their beloveds would never have to face any danger."

"Natasha might disagree there." He returned sourly. Not because of Natasha. He adored watching her fight. But the mention of what threatened the safety of those he held dear was like a sharp knife pressing against his neck.

"Yeah, she's always in on the action. Which brings me to my opinion as a man." He prepared his words much more carefully this time but failed. "She's one hell of a woman. And I speak from experience here."

The Winter Soldier's eyes were a piercing, cold blue. "Wait, what?"

"Don't worry. Remember the time I told you about how we ran from the Strike team? The kiss had been a deception to fool them," well, and innocent flirting of course, "but it gave me an idea of how much there was beneath the surface. Natasha has so much more love in her than she gives herself credit for. She can wrap her enemies around the pinky, but when she actually means it... Her lover would be a very happy man. Also, she's probably the only woman on earth you can sleep with without being afraid of seriously damaging her in the more heated moments."

"Speaking from experience again there?" He just had to ask.

Steve gave him his best 'You know what?' expression before continuing. "And for her it's also a plus since she can let herself go as well."

He would love to see and feel that. When he had been ordered to, the sex had been merely a mission he enjoyed physically to a certain degree, but doing it because they liked and enjoyed it, deciding to be intimate, was a totally different level. Was there a better way to revel in his new found freedom? His libido awoke at the mere thought. He might need a cold shower again once he returned to his rooms.

"So, abridged version..." Steve tried to find the right phrasing.

"Go get her before it's too late?" Bucky offered with a smile that somehow looked pained. Despite everything he couldn't see himself worthy.

"Precisely." The Captain exposed his teeth in a wide grin.

Even though all this sounded logical he still had his doubts. "But what if she's not ready yet?"

Steve smacked him on the shoulder. "Believe me, she is."

"And what if I'm not ready?" He asked hoarsely, his voice more insecure than he had intended. His body begged to differ but his mind was still too brittle to withstand this many emotions.

The Captain mustered him for a few moments. "Guess it's time to find that out."

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Right before noon Natasha had calmed down again. What they had remembered was a thing of their past, stolen by the cruelty of HYDRA and the Red Room. It was a pleasant memory, more than just pleasant. She blindly wanted to cling to this little perfect moment. James had given her so much that night. And more than anything she wanted to repeat it. But the father of her child was not ready yet and she could barely fight down the anger toward the people who had shaped him that way, destroying a man who was able to give so much. She couldn't force him to be that way despite knowing it was the right course for him. But she could offer him options, as many as he needed. And damn, he needed many...

After asking Jarvis about Barnes' location she had quickly picked up her son from Pepper and gone back to her rooms to prepare something to eat. The pizza had helped against her own hunger but the boy and James with his even faster metabolism required nourishment as well.

She stretched herself to reach the upper shelf when her body seized. Flashes made her vision blur and a nausea overcame her. She held on to the counter as the world ceased to exist and a new reality took its place. Natasha could hear a low male purr behind her as someone's arms embraced her. He whispered something but it was hard to make out. Then she smelled his dark musky scent. James…

"Don't worry. Just a little bit longer and it's over. You are almost ready for the last step."

What was he talking about? She could feel an exhaustion draining all the strength from her limbs as she collapsed into his arms. Her body hurt as if acid and not blood was coursing through her veins. Was it the Red Room's version of the Super Soldier serum that was tormenting her this much? That might be an explanation for his words. But then why did she somehow fear the last step this much? It meant that the pain was over, right? One way or the other. Memories of how she suffered through the months of transition came back to her.

James had been her anchor during that time. Despite being the one who brutally trained her in between the injections he had been the only person to show her some form of kindness. To hold her, to… Yes, the sex had been a part of the training. Had the Soldier been her first?

Everything started to blur again. Her hopes, her past, her imagination, facts and false memory probably implanted by their handlers. She didn't know what was true but soon the Black Widow would be able to fight through this battlefield and regain what had been taken from her, from them.

Finally the mist lifted from her and she was back in the kitchen, leaning against the counter and breathing heavily. Somehow she felt hollow now, empty and cold. Lost in thought she finished the meal and set it on the table waiting for James to arrive as well.

Alexei's language and motoric skills had improved during the last week. Banner had told her he was already above normal kids his physical age. He was learning quickly, solving problems with the efficiency of a ten year old. He was already able to access simple panels despite not being taught how to read yet.

Natasha's attention was focused on the toddler but she could see James quickly entering in the corner of her eyes. And his walking style was telltale. She chuckled as he sneaked into the bathroom. Oh, poor Bucky… He still didn't understand what she was offering him. He still only saw the damage he had done to her body and her soul. It was not as if she herself simply had forgotten about it all. She merely looked at it from a different angle.

If HYDRA had never chosen her to be the mother of a new generation of super-soldiers, she would never have had Alexei. If the Winter Soldier had not been the one to father the children, he would still be out there killing for the wrong reasons, or being frozen until his services were required.

And the sex… James might still believe that whatever he did to her was pure brutality and only to complete the mission. But due to the training given to her by the Red Room, although she was just starting to remember the details, the Black Widow was used to the darker pleasures. And with James it had felt… good. She could have fought him in earnest and won, or at least gotten control again. But she'd chosen to merely battle for dominance when the need arose. He had been brutal, but that was mostly centered around the time HYDRA had used this super-viagra on him. And yes, it had been exhausting, but in hindsight, fun.

She knew he was capable of so much more than only mating for procreation. The question was: Did he trust himself enough to accept what they could give one another?

A few minutes later James emerged from the quick shower. At least he had gotten his body under control again and with Alexei around there was too much distraction to fall prey to the same issue, hopefully. Was it pure luck that his body had obeyed more quickly this time? Did the virility drug's effect finally decrease or was it because he had gotten some form of satisfaction while being under? Maybe the dream like state he had been in had dulled the effect. James didn't know but he was glad his need had quieted down.

They didn't know how to even start the topic they both desperately needed to discuss now so they used Alexei as a buffer until they had sorted out their arguments. Lunch was a tense affair while they gave their best to remain calm and entertain their child. Although they were both sure he was able to sense something even at his young age. Once the boy was in his room playing with some new toys the two had no other valid option to avoid talking.

Natasha sighed in surrender as she finally started. "James… What we remembered there… We should talk about it."

He grimaced, his expression more tortured than she had even seen. "I can't… I wish I…"

The Black Widow inside her saw a target she could now easily manipulate, a person who was on the point of breaking under the weight of his emotions, but she didn't take advantage of his vulnerability. "It's okay." She reached for his hand and was glad he didn't pull away.

He just stared out of the window in shame. Why did it have to be so difficult? James hoped she would give something away now, tell him about her feelings, but she remained silent as well, only a blush on her cheeks. "I need to work through all the things in mind first."

"Yeah, I'm sure you have a new load of stuff in there now." She chuckled humorlessly, feeling quite the same. Some memories were starting to come back but they were still hazy. It would take a lot of time.

They listened to their child playing in his room which brought back another topic. What Steve had said about HYDRA still being a threat to their son was something far easier to discuss than the feelings boiling inside of the two. It was similar to planning a mission which in this case was to keep their offspring safe and sound.

"It won't be long until Alexei is old enough to go to school. I'm not sure how we should handle this. He needs to socialize with other children at some point but his quick growth will make it impossible for him to stay in the same class for more than a few weeks, maybe a month." Natasha argued and James could only agree.

"Yes, he would be seen as different and feel that way, no matter how we try it. As well as the issue of how to hide this unusualness from the public. The news would be all over him, scientists and military quickly finding interest in him." The thought of his son being experimented on brought him to the edge.

He was right and she had to fight every motherly instinct in her. "But we can't keep him locked up until he is almost an adult either. Alexei will need contact with normal people to not feel alienated from other humans."

"But trading in protection for normality?" He ground his teeth.

Natasha sighed. "Well, if we want to find a middle ground we should start soon. Damn, James, the boy hasn't left the tower at all since the day he was born. He only knows these walls in here. The farthest he has gone outside was the balcony for Christ's sake."

Bucky swallowed hard as he thought about it. "All we wanted for him was a normal childhood, a life without all the brutality we had experienced. And what did it lead to until now? We locked him away from the world." Just like HYDRA would have done except for the training he would have gotten there.

"He won't be recognized in any form. So at least a walk in the park isn't something impossible." James argued.

"Yeah, but I am too high-profile now to go outside unnoticed since my past is all over the internet. And my public appearances at the trial didn't help either." She sighed in defeat. "Might have to wear a disguising face mask then."

"Look at it from this angle: At least it's an option." Suddenly the thought excited him, lifting his mood. "The last time I was in Central Park with Steve the people recognized him but not me. So I should be okay without a disguise. We could appear just like any other normal family, strolling around." He realized she didn't share his enthusiasm. "Come on. It's gonna be alright."

Natasha already calculated all the dangers this adventure might bring and cringed. "It's a long way from an incognito stroll to a normal life, James." She wanted it, desperately. And she wanted it with him.

"But at least it's a start." He felt the urge to comfort her physically but right before he could wrap his arm around her the Winter Soldier realized what he was about to do and stopped himself.

Natasha longed for his embrace but was kept waiting for eternity so it seemed. "We can try it and go from there."

Despite his anger toward himself for failing at such an important moment he was glad her defence crumbled a little. "Yes, we'll fight on from that point. One day, it might work out."

I hope it does, she thought and anger laced those words. "Yes, I want to give him the best future possible." Her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket. She picked it up and just stared at the message for a long moment.

"Something important?" He asked with a raised eyebrow, advised by the distraction.

"Fury wants to see me. Sorry. We'll continue later." She promised and hoped he would make up his mind until the meeting was over. Natasha was sure by his actions that he was fighting the same needs, even greater since HYDRA's drug tormented him. So how on earth was he able to conquer it? "Look after Alexei, please. I'll call you once it's over." She had a feeling the little chat would turn out much more complicated and transform into a mission. Damn, it was the last thing she needed right now. She had to talk to him, to clear things up, to finally discuss what was bothering them, but... well, duty calls.

James stared at the door for a long time while he went through the discussion they just had. He came to no acceptable conclusion, only revealing more questions as he pulled in other facts. A few weeks ago he and Steve had joked about Natasha and him adding even more children to the family before the serum stopped working. But how in the world should they manage the double amount of problems? Well at least then Alexei wouldn't have to face this form of isolation alone when he had a sibling to look after. But he would grow up to be a teenager until the child was born. So what use would that be? Once he got older he would see the same issues he had been through but not being able to help. Why the hell had been altered that way? He had been meant to be the first of an army. The thought sickened the Soldier. Did HYDRA's cruelty know no limit? Maybe he should never sire any more children with her but somehow... He wanted to. Not right now. Maybe once they had settled and understood what lay ahead of them.

The thought stopped his needs. And he was glad for that. With a sigh he turned toward his son to take care of the just awoken child who was asking for attention. They had to focus on what they had right now. Which was more than he had ever hoped for. And James knew it would be difficult... but please, let it be more easily accomplished. He wanted to give his best as a father and be as good as Natasha as a mother.

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The Black Widow showed her annoyance to be interrupted unabashedly. She didn't say a word, waiting for him to start while giving him her best assassin branded look.

"You're clean again, Romanoff?" Stark wasn't the only one to siphon of data.

"Excuse me, Sir?" How could he know about something that hadn't happened longer than five hours ago.

"The little drug trial you had in the lab. Everything out of your system?"

"Yes." She blushed, the hell, she blushed!

"Good. We have a new mission and I need you in top condition. Or... are you distracted?" He tried to get some information out of her. In the end he still had his little bet with Hill going on and some insight was preferable.

"Nothing that would distract me of a mission, Sir."

"Alright. The jet will bring you to those coordinates. Work yourself into their system and get all the data you can. Then dispose of the targets."

"Alright." She hesitated for only a moment, but it was enough for him to notice.

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Three days it had been since Natasha had left the tower for some top secret mission. And it started to annoy him. He wanted to talk to her about everything that happened. Confront her with all he had stored up. Yet it seemed impossible. Once he would lay eyes upon her body, her face he wouldn't be able to say a single word. And he hated himself for it. Damn, even Steve had less complications in his barely blossoming relationship. The anger drove him past the breaking point but at least he had found a good solution.

James intended follow Natasha's example. Searching structure and trying to calm his restless mind by practicing his skills was the only option now. It was his luck that Steve had a little bit of free time so they spent a few hours in the gym each day.

But Steve was fighting too honest, righteous. James longed for someone more sneaky, and flexible. Someone who could pin him to the mat and make him want to submit.

"Bucky?" The Captain tried again since his friend seemed to have been lost in thought.

"What?" James angrily shot back before grabbing his opponent's wrist and smashing him to the ground.

"You have to talk to Nat as soon as she gets back. I'm not stupid. I know what's going on here." He grimaced once Bucky gripped him even tighter at these words without realizing it.

"If I do will you shut up about it?" he retorted angrily.

What the hell, Steve actually smiled. "Yes, I will." His friend didn't see what he was seeing from this angle.

Natasha was standing in the gym, her face showing all the need she wanted to unleash upon her mate. And nothing would stop her.

"I think I'll hand the rest over to our mutual friend." Steve merely said before fighting his way out of Bucky strong grip.

The man just stared at him before he saw Natasha slender form still clad in her uniform emerging from the shadows. There was a target worthy of his strength. And damn, the last days had been enough for him to fill his desperation to the breaking point. They had distracted themselves with the thought of their boy being in danger. Shamefully used it as something to think about. But right now in this moment, where they were opponents, it simply didn't matter anymore. They both gave the best they could and it would always be that way. Yet their need for each other had grown to immensely proportions once they had shared the dream in which... well, they had given into their bodies' desires.

James looked around, finding none but the leaving Steve to be a spectator. This was their playground. A game they had played for ages and he wanted to win.

Natasha was slowly walking toward him, trying to measure him, but it had been all to clear since her first glance, so he didn't give her any opportunity to walk away from this. His hand extended on its own accord, begging her closer. He wanted satisfaction, and he would get it. "Too tired to fight?" He asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"Not at all. Show me what you have, Soldier." She was the invincible, solid as rock, in this mess of distracted minds. She had lived for as long as he had, seen as much, and knew how to fight him. And hell, he wanted it.

Natasha attacked without any objections. Damn, she was so focused on making him submit he almost forgot how to breathe. Such a ruthless creature, and he thirsted her all the more for it.

After a few common moves she had already put him down to his knees but he didn't give up that easily. His powerful attacks, which had no need to hold back with her amazing physique, pushed her to the ground as often as she did him.

Whenever he was sure he had gotten the upper hand she just slipped out of his grasp and attacked, giving her the opportunity to chain him down again but he wouldn't allow that.

At was a back and forth for several minutes and the fight seemed to arouse the more primal sides of them. How long had they longed for this. It was perfect. Finally the right opponent.

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Tony smiled at the scene before him on the monitors. "I should record this or charge money to watch."

Clint's eyes followed another move of Natasha's which had Barnes pinned to the ground. "They are deadly in their perfection." He had to admit.

"I should just tape the video for the new recruits at least. Wow, I have never seen Romanoff like this. Christ, if I didn't have Pepper I would totally fall for that. This is the most intimate fight I have ever seen."

Clint didn't try to give away anything so he lied about Laura. "Stark, if you know a woman, I need one soon seriously. This tension is unbearable." He watched another more than brutal move that left Natasha gasping in exhaustion until she turned around their positions. "This is sex in its most brutal form, right?"

Tony felt the smile on his lips before he could deny it. "I think this here is their definition of sex, yes. If they don't do it any time soon I will have to go to cryo myself to sit that ages out until they finally make it to the bed."

Natasha fought hard as James had one of her arms pinned to the floor again, the heavy weight off his body pressing her down. There weren't many options so she used her one free hand to find his hip bones and trailed toward his crotch. He halted only for a blink but it was enough for her to work her arm free and wrap her thighs around him. With the force of her movement she had him beneath her again, pressing her hips against his to test his concentration.

And he failed miserably. James tried to get himself into a sitting position again but once she had caught his arms this seemed impossible. Yes, as soon as he activated his hand to unleash an inhuman force he would be free of her hold again, but not of her eternal grasp that she had over his entire being. So he just let it happen.

Her hips moved against his in an instinct but it was enough to awaken him fully. There was no turning back anymore, at least for her. She tore him from the mat and pushed him towards the exit.

Once he had realized what she was aiming for he had to stop her. "Natalia… After what we did in that dream, what we remembered doing…"

"Shut up and kiss me." His fear didn't matter anymore. She had tamed it, just like him in a few minutes.

"What?" He didn't believe what he was hearing. The look in her eyes went straight to his groin. This fire she was barely able to contain or hide from him. He wanted to burn in her flame.

She couldn't wait any longer. Once they had exited the elevator her hands pushed against his torso until he stood flat against the wall. A predatory grin spread over her face as she saw the mutual desire in his expression. "No fear. And don't hold back." She whispered against his lips and felt him shiver in excitement.

He couldn't believe what was happening. The shock and surprise freezing him as he awaited her next move.

Natasha's breath came in harsh gasps before she finally decided that they had been torturing each other for long enough. The waiting, all of the time holding back, had to be over at last. She crashed her lips against his and almost came at the mere touch. Oh, it had been way too long. The Black Widow melted into his broad frame, uniting with him as much as their clothes allowed it.

He kissed her back with the desperation of a drowning man clinging to a piece of drifting wood. Suddenly the gates were opened and he was flooded with desire. Instinct took over and he grabbed her wrists and switched positions, slamming her into the wall.

All air was knocked from her as his body pressed hers against the unyielding surface. His grip was too strong. The metal hand bruising her skin and threatening to break her bones like twigs.

But Natasha didn't panic, she merely groaned in lust. The pain and knowledge of how this brute force would feel inside of her turning the proud assassin into what Loki once named so vilely.

"Mine!" The Soldier growled while he demanded more from her, bruising her lips until he tasted blood. He felt her retreating, gasping for air. His clouded mind didn't arrive at the right conclusion. She wanted to turn away from him, to leave him. Well, he couldn't have that. "Mine!" James repeated and forced both her wrists above her head into the tight grip of his metal arm while his flesh hand buried itself into her hair, pulling until there were tears in her eyes. With his strong grip he turned her head to the side to expose her throat. He sank his mouth onto the spot right beneath her ear. One of the few places he found to be her weakness. He marked the spot by sucking as hard as he could, and then switching between biting, licking and kissing until he was satisfied with the dark stain blooming there. "Моя. (Mine.)" He repeated one last time, entirely out of breath, as his body ground against hers, showing her his lust.

"Да, твоя. (Yes, yours.)" She said, her voice hoarse and needy.

His hand left Natasha's hair to touch her body, kneading her breast, pinching the nipple through the fabric of her shirt, and down, down... He cupped her ass and lifted her up so she could lock her thighs around his hips. His fingers were close enough to her womanhood to feel how much she enjoyed it. James' laugh was partly a lustful growl. "О, ты такая влажная. Течёшь и портишь свои брюки. Мокнешь и так жаждешь мои пальцы (Oh, you are so wet. Dripping and ruining your trousers. Soaking and so eager for my fingers)," he toyed with her as much as possible in this position, "мой язык (my tongue)," he demonstrated this by licking along her neck, right where he felt the blood pounding, before breathing in her ear, "и... (and…)" he took one of her hands and guided them between their bodies, "мой член. (my cock.)" Her fingers actually shook with excitement. He palmed himself using her hand and heard her moan. "Чувствуешь, что ты делаешь со мной? Чёрт побери, я весь в твоей власти, ты маленькая распутница, и всегда был. (Can you feel what you do to me? Fucking hell, you have me at your mercy, you little minx, you always had.)" He pushed into her hand, his member twitching and leaking precum, ruining his own trousers.

Natasha wanted to burn in his lust. Wanted to give herself to him, with every fiber of her being. Heat pooled in her belly at his timbre, his words. This man would be the death of her, and she would jump off the cliff with a scream of joy. When he moved her bruised hand she gritted her teeth. Then she felt him, straining against his trousers all proud and… Oh, she could feel his pulse through the thick cloth, felt him twitching as he ground himself into her…

A painful groan he hadn't expected made James freeze in his actions. Something was not right. Dizzily, as if someone had smashed his head into the ground, he stepped back and let go of her, trying to focus.

No, no, no… Despite the pain in her wrist she never wanted him to stop. Damn her body! The Black Widow had always tried to search for a mate who wouldn't break under her, and now she found a man who could barely hold himself back when he was with her. The thought of being manhandled by the Winter Soldier made her groan once again, this time in suppressed lust. She wanted this!

"I hurt you," he blurted out as he saw her wrist swelling and turning blue.

Natasha raised her head and stared him in the face, her eyes sharp and dark with desire. "You could break every fucking bone in my body if that means I can have you."

That was too much for him. The Winter Soldier was torn between running away and claiming this irresistible goddess until her body was sore and ruined. "I'm so sorry," he stuttered before taking one and then two steps backwards.

"James!" Before she could reach for him, he had already fled out the room.

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone ^^

Your reviews really keep me going!

Again the plea to find my mistakes. Remember, I am just a German girl with weird fantasies. I need your help with the language and I don't have a beta currently. If you want more insights than in my answers to the reviews on AO3, you might want to ask for the position. ^^

As for the audio book of this fanfics. Still working on it and unhappy with my result. XD