Darkness: Collection of Short Stories and Companion to Shadows and Secrets

Short Story 5: Needed

AN: This chapter of Darkness is chapter 23 of book 1—Marjorie and Bucky's first kiss—from Marjorie's perspective.

trigger warning: mild sexual content that may be offensive or upsetting to some readers

Marjorie's POV

    "Influencing emotions?" he asked quietly.

    She hated this aspect of her power for how it made her distrust others' feelings of her. Did they really love her or was it just Marjorie unintentionally messing with their emotions. "...Yeah," she said, trying not to fidget uncomfortably.

    "Have you ever done that to me?"

    "No," Marjorie said. Not on purpose.

    "Never?" Bucky asked desperately. She understood why he of all people would worry that she had been in his head, made his thoughts and opinions her own. Bucky didn't want to be controlled again, and Marjorie never wanted to have to take away someone's will like Hydra did to him.

    But she couldn't deny that Marjorie would use this power to force emotions on someone if there was no other option.

    Marjorie swallowed nervously at his intense glare. To comfort him she told him the limitations of this power: "No. You would be able to tell anyway; it would go away as soon as you got out of my range, and I have to concentrate pretty hard."

    Bucky stared into her eyes, searching her for if what she was saying was true. He seemed satisfied with what he saw and Marjorie could tell he trusted her.

    He held eye contact and Marjorie's palms started to sweat and she started to fidget. She wasn't sure why his clear blue eyes staring into hers made her so nervous.

    Was it because of his line of questioning? Or because the intensity Bucky was looking at her with?

    It struck Marjorie how relieved she was that he seemed to believe her. She wanted—no, needed—him to trust her and like her. Was this why she was nervous? Because she had expected complete and utter rejection at this point and it had yet to come? Yes, that was the reason.

    Bucky looked at Marjorie, and seemed to notice her less than confident demeanor. His shadow vapor switched to worry and concern, with a building guilt.

    "I'm so sorry," Bucky apologized frantically, clearly afraid he had somehow upset or scared her.

    "It's fine." And it was fine. He didn't upset her, her own desperation for him to overlook this had. And the fact that he was over it so quickly when he should hate her for it.

    "No," Bucky said. "I shouldn't have said that or implied that you would... I'm so sorry, Marjorie. That was inexcusable."

    She almost laughed. The fact that he was apologizing to her was so ridiculous and completely bizarre. He didn't have anything to apologize for, unlike Marjorie.

    Bucky's shadow vapor continued to spiral downward towards more guilt and anger. Marjorie tuned it out, not that it helped.

    When his emotions took a more protective turn towards her, she wondered when he would connect her power to influence emotions to a power to sense emotions. Marjorie didn't really want him to know that she knew whenever he was brooding or pining over her... but... pretending to not notice his crush was exhausting.

    "I'm sorry for scaring you," Bucky said, trying to read her.

    He wasn't successful if he thought she was scared of him. Intimidated, sure. But that had more to do with his dark grace and attractive, muscular body rather than fear.