shiftingdynamics

[shiftingdynamics]

my dudes, my pals, i am once again reminding you that the average fic author doesn’t want to hear that you didn’t like their fic

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I’m concerned when people seem to be incapable of conceiving that a character can have a good heart while occasionally being a jerk, selfish, hypocritical, unfair, unreasonable, hurtful, etc etc because last I checked, that’s what real people were like

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Since Civil War released, I've been getting a lot of ... unkind comments on my fic Cohesion. I've gotten to the point where I'm tired of seeing a comment has been left, because I know it's going to be meh at best or shitty at worst. I was so proud of finishing that fic. I was looking forward to so much more. I've worked hard at building a world that was realistic, three dimensional, and as true to the characters as I could get. I have so much that I've worked on, so many things I've planned or haven't yet finished. I'm more than a little irritated about these comments. I'm tired of feeling like I'm being attacked. It's kind of hard to keep interest in something with things like that. It's time I move on to another fandom. I think I'm done here.

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Ahaha. Sometimes I think I should just post my half finished stuff just to get it out of my head.

Does anyone else have that one fanfiction that they’re dying to to write but it’s like, mega long and basically a whole universe, and then you’ve got head-cannons to go with that fanfiction and like fanfiction to go with that fanfiction an back-stories for every character and you get frikin’ feels about that universe and it’d be the most coolest thing if you could just be bothered to frikin’ write it.

[shiftingdynamics]

A very interesting read, especially with the context of Bucky, Steve, and Tony's relationship in this 'verse

[shiftingdynamics]

Puff Piece by chibimono

Fandom: Marvel (movies) Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers/Tony Stark (with mentions of Thor/Jane and Pepper/Coulson) Rating: G Word Count: 1,253 Genre: fluff/romance Warnings/Content: Polyamory, polyamorous wedding, mention of religious polyamory, fictional LGBTQ+ cable channel, fictional LGBTQ+ news show, fictional Supreme Court rulings, the running of the interns. Summary: Prism TV has got you covered for the need-to-know in your LGBTQ+ community. And this just in: multi-partner marriage is finally legal! Notes: Yay! My second year completed! Follows the same ‘verse as my fic Cohesion (and last year’s Slashorific entry Barophobia), but set many, many years down the line. If you’d like to read more of my OT3!verse, check out my Shifting Dynamics tumblr.

Puff Piece by chibimono

[shiftingdynamics]

Shifting Dynamics turned 3 today!

I've been working on this ‘verse for about 4 years now. Work and RL have slowed me down from getting more written, but I'm still going. Thank you all for reading! I hope to share more with you in the future, so please stick around. :D

[shiftingdynamics]

Dialogue Prompts, anyone??

“I’m sick of you always taking the cat’s side in everything!”

“I pictured you hotter, to be honest.”

“What do you mean you’ve never tried hangover sex? It’s like, an instant cure!”

“Remember how I told you I already took care of that? Well I lied and I need help NOW.”

“Is this the same store you don’t go to anymore because you said ‘I love you’ to the cashier?”

“No, I was just in the neighbourhood…total coincidence that you’re here too…”

“When we’re 50, wanna be each other’s backup spouse?”

“No, officer, I will NOT step out of the vehicle..”

“For the last time, this is not Joe’s Pizza. How do you keep dialling this number? Who even free-dials anymore?”

“Yes, I know that’s my face on the billboard, can we not make a big deal about it?”

“Are these your underwear or mine?”

“Hey remember that time we practised kissing? That was so dumb, right? Right..?”

“What do you mean there’s no signal? We’re trapped here?!”

“Yeah, we broke up months ago…I didn’t tell you about it because didn’t think you’d care.”

“….happy birthday to ME…”

“Yeah we made a sex bet and now it’s terrible because I thought I would be the one who’s better at it..”

“Oh my god, you have a concussion, stop trying to flirt with me.”

“It’s super annoying that you’re so fit because you make me exercise more. How else was I supposed to ogle you?”

“I haven’t written anything in weeks because you’re so damn distracting. Stop that!”

“Okay wait. Can we stop joking around like we’d ever actually date? It’s really starting to hurt…”

[shiftingdynamics]

Reblog if you write fanfic and would be totally down with your followers coming into you askbox and talking to you about your fic

Yes please feel free 💋❤️

[shiftingdynamics]

Very interesting thing has been going on lately. I've been getting these wonderful comments telling me how much some of my readers enjoyed reading Cohesion very much... And that they'd love to cave Steve's face in for being such a selfish asshole.

After watching Civil War, I think I nailed that pretty much on the nose four years ago. Huh.

While Civil War was great, it really didn't change my feelings about this OT3!verse. If anything, it inspired a few extra storylines I could throw in further down the road. Nothing here in @shiftingdynamics has changed. The guys will continue along as planned. :)

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This song in particular inspired the whole anniversary Halloween party in Cohesion. The thing is, though, I only gave a glimpse of Tony before (as he’s setting up Bucky in a costume, preparing to throw Bucky at Steve to put distance between himself and Steve) and after the party (when Steve goes to Tony, unknowing that Tony was planning to rip off the band-aid and break up with Steve). I feel that this song perfectly captures Tony during the party, giving his perspective of watching Steve and Bucky enjoy the party.

[shiftingdynamics]

{fanfic} Waiting For Your Call

I’ve got over 200 followers! This is exciting! I’m glad to see so many of you enjoy these guys together as much as I do. :D

This story is pre-Steve/Tony, with pining and unexplored feelings. Shifting Dynamics goes AU after the 1st Avengers movie, and I have a whole outline of stories of Steve and Tony’s relationship from after the movie to where Cohesion picks up. This story is pre-Steve/Tony and is kinda a mishmash of the Iron Man 3 Mandarin stuff. If I ever get far enough into writing all the arcs I have planned, this will be significant for the eventual Extremis arc. ^^;;

This story includes: unexplored feelings, pining, jealous Steve, mention of past Steve/Bucky. injured Tony.

Warning for: terrorist situation, description of terrorist situation aftermath, movie/comic book violence, human bombs (like in IM3).

++++++++++

Steve was out with Sam for the morning, but headed back to the Tower for lunch, swinging by his favorite diner for cheesy bacon burgers to go, extra fries and onion rings on the side. He tucked a two-liter of cola under his arm and carried the stack of styrofoam containers down to Tony's workshop for lunch, grateful for JARVIS opening the doors in his wake. He slipped in quietly when he noticed Tony was in the middle of a video conference with Pepper, heading to the couch and laying open the clamshell containers on the coffee table for whenever Tony was ready to eat.

From where he sat, arranging the fries and containers of ketchup and ranch dressing, Steve could look up at the backside of the interface where Tony was taking his call, seeing the reversed, slightly faded image of Pepper. Even backwards, Steve could see the weariness in her face, the line of tension in her shoulders. By the darkness of the room behind her and the glow of her monitor against her skin, Steve could only guess it was night where ever she might be.

"The demands are getting a little more hostile," she said, her voice pinched and fast with the verge of panic. "Tony, we're almost at the point where the security here won't be able to do much more. If violence starts, the whole facility will be at risk. We'll need the board--"

"I'm coming," Tony sighed, rubbing roughly at his eyes.

"No, Tony. It'll just make things worse. We'll get the board to approve more security--"

"And that'll be a waste of time. I'll just suit up and--"

"Tony--"

"--be there in a few hours. We'll talk it out with the locals--"

"--it's not going to be that easy! You're not very well liked to begin with."

"Who doesn't like Tony Stark?" he gave a derisive snort. He sobered just as quickly to point at Steve across the room. "Don't answer that. That was rhetorical. Keep it to yourself, Cap." Steve only shook his head and smiled innocently, popping an onion ring into his mouth.

Pepper sighed and pursed her lips. "Tony, they're pointing at you as the figurehead of all that's gone wrong here. They've got it into their heads that you're the villain, that you allowed the corruption in management. You coming here is just going to turn the strikes into riots."

Tony spun on his work stool, looking over his suits. "I won't wear the armor, then. I'll bring it, but--"

"You aren't listening, Tony!"

"I am," he said forcefully, standing to get directly into what would be Pepper's personal space, if she were there. "I hear you loud and clear. But someone is looking for a war with me and it sounds like they're going to burn everything down whether or not I show. So if I do show, maybe I can draw the violence away from the facility--"

"How big a scale are we talking, here?" Steve finally piped up. "If things are escalating--"

Tony rolled his eyes in frustration. "No, you are not getting involved. Start eating and keep your mouth full."

Steve clenched his jaw, feeling himself bristle at being so easily dismissed when he just wanted to help. "Remember when you said I can call you out for being an ass?"

"I'm pretty sure I've hit my head since then and forgotten. It doesn't matter anyway, since this is not Avengers related--"

Steve stood, leaving a fry in his little plastic ketchup cup. "You're involved, aren't you? And if Iron Man's involved, it's Avengers' business."

Groaning, Tony covered his face with his hands. "I should've made JARVIS lock you out until the call was done," he muttered into his palms.

Not willing to let this go, Steve stepped up behind Tony, coming into view for Pepper and putting his hands on Tony's bowstring tight shoulders. "What's the situation like, Pepper?"

She sighed, but looked a little less panicked talking to Steve. "It's not good. About 600 employees are on a strike at a Stark Industries facility in Madripoor. They've been putting in long hours for less pay while management of the division pocketed their profits. They're blaming it all on Tony and Western greed. They don't seem to understand that, as CEO, I've come to put a stop to it and see that the criminals are punished... I honestly don't think they'll be happy until they see Tony hanged."

Steve cursed gently under his breath, his fingers squeezing at the tension in Tony's shoulders. "What's the security detail like? Could it stand some beefing up with SHIELD agents?"

"No--" Tony grit out as Pepper said, "It's something around 3 to 1 against us, but then again, our security members are trained to hold back crowds as long as they don't get too violent--"

"So, really, we're good, Steve," Tony cut in. He tried shrugging Steve's hands off, but Steve kept them there at his shoulders, pushing his thumbs into the knots of tension. It made Tony hiss a groan through his teeth, his back arching. "Curse your damn hands," he muttered.

"Give Phil a call. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind freeing up a few agents to help out," Steve told Pepper, thinking over who would be available. "I know there's a few that could keep things quiet to help avoid an international incident."

Pepper fretted, the little worry lines standing out on her forehead. "You don't think that's too much of an imposition, do you? I really didn't want to get SHIELD involved with something this simple. It's not like it's a villain attack or anything--"

"It's Madripoor," was Steve's flat response.

"That's why I'm still going," Tony said, curling forward as Steve put more pressure into massaging his shoulders and neck.

Steve knew there was no way of talking him out of it. Tony's mind was obviously set on going out there, and Steve understood it. It was Tony's company, even if he was no longer the CEO, and he still felt a great deal of responsibility toward it. But the fact that it was Madripoor set off alarms in Steve's mind. Tony could handle it himself, he was a capable hero in his own right, of this Steve knew very well. He just didn't have to do it alone because it was his company--the Avengers were more than willing to have his back. Steve especially. "If you don't want the Avengers, can you at least agree to take Rhodes with you? For friendly company?"

Tony straightened up, looking to Pepper on the screen. "I'll give you a call once I get a flight time, Pep. Expect me in less than 24 hours."

She sighed, a tiny smile quirking at the corner of her lips. "That sounds more like a threat."

"You bet your pretty red head it is," Tony smiled before waving his hand to cut the conference. He spun around on his stool to level an unimpressed glare on Steve.

"Before you start anything else," Steve began, holding up his hands in surrender, "just eat lunch with me. I got you a burger and it's getting cold."

Tony looked up at Steve helplessly. "I don't have the time, Steve."

Holding out his hands for Tony, Steve pulled him to his feet. "You think I don't know JARVIS is already setting up your itinerary?"

"The jet is being fueled as we speak, Sir," JARVIS said. "I've also taken the liberty to contact Colonel Rhodes. He's enroute to the Tower--ETA 1 hour, 27 minutes."

A little pang of disappointment ran through Steve, that Rhodes was getting to go. Then guilt immediately set in for Steve; Rhodes was a friend to Tony for much longer than Steve. Besides, Steve spent much more time with Tony anymore and it was only fair that Rhodes could have time with Tony, too. "Just enough time to eat before you leave."

Tony circled the coffee table to sit on the couch, eying the spread Steve had laid out. He pulled out the soggy fry Steve had left in the ketchup and ate it. "I could just eat on the plane."

"You won't. If I don't feed you, you won't eat."

Tony made a small sniff of his nose, quirked his mouth. "Like a mama bird. You want me to peep at you? Don't throw up in my mouth."

Steve just took a bite of a burger when Tony grossed him out, making him shudder as he swallowed. "Ugh, thanks for that mental image."

Picking at his fries and the bacon on his burger, Tony didn't make a move to actually eat. "A bite or two isn't actually going to hurt, Shellhead," Steve nudged at him with an elbow. "You're probably going to need the energy, so tuck in."

"Do you not trust me?"

"No, I trust you just fine. But you don't have to do this alone, Tony."

"It's my responsibility, Steve."

"But as a leader, you're my responsibility. And as a friend... I just want to know that you're safe. Who else would I have lunch with?" Steve asked with a little smile, tossing a few onion rings into Tony's container.

"Darcy? Sam? Natasha?"

Steve leaned in to bump his shoulder with Tony's. "But I like having lunch with you the best."

Tony's eyes, so wide and dark, looked up at him. The corners of his mouth flexed downward, working between emotions Steve couldn't quite read, but he's sure he'd seen before. "Steve..."

The sound of Tony's voice was almost desperate in the way he all but whispered Steve's name. It made something something fierce, something hungry flutter in Steve's chest. He ached to keep Tony from leaving without him, to keep him home and safe, and he felt himself flush in shame for it. "Just... If you need help, call me."

"You're going to have a Quinjet waiting, just in case. I can tell by that sheepish look you have. You're not fooling anyone, Winghead."

"JARVIS, you might as well get that ready, too. Whatever it takes to make sure Tony makes it home safe."

"I bet you say that to all the Avengers," Tony said with a leer, leaning in as he took a suggestive bite of a fry.

Steve was used to his flirty teasing, welcomed it for the closeness it gave, the intimacy of inside jokes he didn't have many people to share with. He liked retaliating when he could, as well, if only to see Tony's face light up. Steve picked up a fry and held it to Tony's lips, feeding it to him and watching those big brown eyes go so liquid and soft.

"But I mean it," Steve said, and he did, he just hoped Tony could hear it in his voice, "especially for you. Because you're my friend."

Tony looked away, to his burger sitting there, barely touched. Steve could hear the click of his throat as he swallowed. "I'll call. I promise."

He knew a compromise when he saw it and sealed the deal with a pleased smile. "That's all I'm asking for."

++++++++++

By the time Rhodes showed up, Coulson also arrived with Bobbie and Sharon in tow. "Ms. Potts called. Sounded like she might like a little help."

Across the conference room, Steve watched Rhodes lean in close to Tony and whisper, which Steve was still able to hear clearly thanks to his serum, "Looks like all but the important ones know you like chesty blonds." The sharp-eyed look Tony sent his way didn't lessen Rhodes' smirk at all, or even stop him from raising his hand to grab Steve's attention. "I'll make sure he behaves, Cap," the airman called, while Tony looked like he was going to choke.

Steve watched from the balcony as four people boarded a SHIELD helicopter that would take them to the airfield for departure. The ache in his chest was heavy and cold as he saw Tony wave from a small window. He knew he didn't need to babysit Tony, that as Iron Man, he would be just fine. Rhodes was no pushover either, and Mockingbird and Agent 13 could hold their own better than any man Steve had stood beside in the War. Steve just needed to breathe and remember they were all capable individuals that were going to come home safe and sound.

That didn't stop Steve from commandeering an earpiece and the frequency from Phil to listen in on Bobbie and Sharon's comm channel. Their sit-reps and mission chatter were white noise in one ear against the backdrop of slow days as Steve wandered through daily life at the Tower. He took meals with Darcy or Sam to avoid being alone, and more than once had to redirect himself away from Tony's workshop after belatedly remembering that Tony wouldn't be there. He'd sometimes hear Tony's voice and turn his head to find him, only to realize that it was just the comm unit in his ear, with the agents' mics picking up his talking from the background. Steve was restless, but unable to find motivation as his focus drifted in and out on the comm channel conversations. As the residents of the Tower settled in for the night, Steve laid awake in bed and listened as Tony and his group worked on the other side of the world where the day was just starting.

Day Four was when everything decided to go FUBAR. At some point in the night, Steve slipped into sleep with the lull of inaction over the comm. But a very normal dream quickly escalated into a nightmare.

Steve could taste the gunpowder and ash of the battlefield in his mouth as he watched HYDRA soldiers swarm the forest, the eerie blue glow of their weapons lighting up and disintegrating SHIELD agents around him. Rhodes' shout turned Steve toward him, just in time to see Tony glowing from the inside out, burning to ash slowly and whipping away on the wind.

Pepper's scream of Tony's name jerked him awake, fear and grief churning like acid in Steve's chest as he heaved panicked breaths. He tried reorienting himself from his impromptu nap, climbing from his bed and taking in the bright early morning sun filtering in his apartment's windows.

But the nightmare seemed to continue in his ear.

As night fell in Madripoor, the ongoing protest sight became a target for terrorists, with Tony in the thick of it all. Bodies were exploding. People were glowing red like embers and blowing out, burning up anyone around them.

For a moment, Steve couldn't breath, couldn't live, waiting out the commotion to hear Tony, his voice, his position, to hear anything.

When Steve's cellphone rang, the sound and vibrations jarring him violently into motion, Steve fumbled the phone only once before getting it to his ear.

"So, uh... Need you."

"On my way," Steve breathed into the receiver, lungs straining as Steve learned to inhale again.

The world kicked into gear around him, a plan of action leading straight to Tony unfolding rapidly in his mind. As if waiting for his alert, Natasha, Clint, Sam, and Melinda were suited up, armed, and boarding the Quinjet with him in minutes, setting a direct course for Madripoor. SHIELD's advanced transport meant cutting travel time in half, but that still made for a nearly ten hour flight of tense listening to comms and waiting. From what Steve could tell, the agents and Rhodes were working to confine and control the damage of the human bombs, while Tony and Pepper managed to find themselves at the mercy of the leader, a man calling himself The Mandarin.

Steve focused on the sounds of the ensuing fights playing out in his earpiece, trying to learn as much as he could through the only sense available to him while still at such a distance. The glowing bombers were stronger, more durable fighters, putting up a struggle even for the Warmachine armor. By the sounds of their pained, anguished screams before igniting, Steve was fairly sure these people didn't want to die, but an instability in the process of making them stronger and hard-wearing seemed to be causing them to explode. Steve wanted so badly for some eyes-on, if only to strategize for avoiding the worst of instability and protecting civilians from the blasts. More than once, Bobbi and Sharon both came too close to being ash themselves and Steve gritted his teeth at his current uselessness. He needed to be there.

While Mockingbird and Agent 13 had open lines, Rhodes and Tony's comms only connected to the channel to relay quick bursts of audio. Steve was lucky his own comm unit was patched in with JARVIS, who was available to fill in when Steve was desperate for something, anything, in Tony's silence.

The fight was frantic; Steve could hear it in Tony's clipped voice and in JARVIS' updates of energy levels and system failures. Steve stood and nearly punched a hole through the bulkhead when JARVIS reported Tony abandoning the MARK V due to the suit being far too compromised. Luckily, the MARK IX was already on its way as soon as Tony unlocked V from its suitcase, it's ridiculous Mach-breaking speeds delivering it to Tony just in time to dive from one suit and into the other.

While the IX was newer and more powerful, Tony found his armor forcibly crippled by rocking explosions and metal melting heat. Still a few hours out, Steve clenched his eyes shut and silently begged for Tony to hold on.

With Madripoor finally visible on the horizon, the sun coming up from behind the Quinjet to light the country's port cities with dawn's colors, Steve took a deep breath.

And lost all the air from his lungs as Tony set the MARK IX to blow. JARVIS initiated the SOS beacon in Tony's arc reactor as part of the suit's final transmission before communication was lost.

Steve didn't notice Sam guiding him to sit, asking him to talk, to focus. All Steve could see, as he closed his eyes against the burn of tears, was Bucky falling just out of reach from the speeding train and a replay of that morning's nightmare of Tony burning to dust. He didn't know he could ache like this again, could feel so crushed, so destroyed again. He loved Bucky and losing him made crashing into the Atlantic that much easier, because he couldn't see carrying on past his duties without him.

Tony was a friend, was family, a constant in this new world that anchored Steve as much as he set Steve free. He finally felt like he belonged again, after finding someone who's pocket he could live in again and knew his own pocket was home to them in return. He wasn't ready for this, not this soon. Not when there was so much left to say and do together. Not when he was on his way for Tony, because Tony promised to call him when he needed help, and he called. Not when Steve finally knew he just... That he couldn't...

Sucking in a deep breath, Steve grabbed at his scattered wits and broken shards of his heart, shoving it all down into the rolling anxiety in his stomach. Squaring his shoulders, his head cleared. There were still people to help, teammates to recover, damages to set right.

The Quinjet touched down in the cratered parking lot of Stark Industries' Madripoor facility, just on the outskirts of Lowtown's industrial district. Several points of structural damage to the smoking building made it sag, with just a matter of time before it collapsed. Shadows of people were scorched against walls and the pavement, making an even more haunting way to count the lives lost that night. The Madripoor emergency response teams were moving through the area, trying to help as many survivors as they could. Clint, Melinda, and Natasha began to move through the wreckage as quickly as possible, efficiently picking their way through the debris to find Bobbi and Sharon and any remaining terrorists. Sam stepped up with his pararescue training, diving right in to pull the injured to safety and help get them stabilized for transport.

Steve tried walking past it all, following the directions JARVIS spoke into his ear, but at every turn there was someone that needed his help. He stumbled over Rhodes and Pepper, both injured but not severely so, and was able to lead them to the Quinjet. He'd walk right back into the  disaster every time, knowing he needed the truth at the end of the path JARVIS was guiding him through.

After searching for a way into the darkened production floor that wouldn't compromise the rest of the building, Steve climbed over burned pallets and blasted machinery. In a pile of warped metal machine guards, Steve was able to recognize the telltale blue glow of Tony's reactor. Fear burned in his chest as he ran forward, calling out for his friend. "Iron Man! Tony!"

The voice was weak with exhaustion, but most definitely alive. "Here... I'm okay... Okay as I could be... Okay with a broken ankle..."

Steve began pulling the metal panels apart and heaving them to the side. Curled under a sheet of metal emblazoned with the Stark logo, armed with only a gauntlet and covered in blood, bruises, and burns, was a very alive Tony. Steve's stomach swooped, tossing loose all the feelings he bottled up inside to get to this point. He fell to his knees in relief and grabbed for Tony, careful of his aches and pains as he drew Tony into his lap. He wanted to climb into Tony, hide in his pocket, crawl under his skin, live in his arc reactor. He had to settle for holding him close in a fierce hug and tucking his face against Tony's neck, nosing at the hinge of Tony's jaw until his could feel Tony's pulse beating against the bridge of his nose. Breathing in deep, he could smell Tony under the dust and ash and blood, could practically taste his sweat and fading traces of cologne on his tongue.

Tony patted awkwardly at Steve's shoulder before giving in, melting into Steve's embrace as the adrenaline seeped out of him. "I called, just like you asked."

Steve wanted to thank him for it, for trusting in Steve like Steve trusted in him, but the words were caught in his throat. Instead, he made a strangled sound and held Tony tighter, pushed his face further into cradle of Tony's neck.

"Hey, I'm right here," Tony said, his voice hoarse and low. "We'll go home and have lunch. And maybe next time I'll listen to you and bring you along."

Unfortunately, Steve knew, there would always be a next time, as long as they lived as heroes. He hated to think of any of them going it alone. It just seemed to hurt that much more this time, knowing it was Tony out there needing him. Steve wasn't exactly sure why it was different now. Just that it was, and he ached with it.

[shiftingdynamics]

I have a playlist of 40+ songs specifically for listening to when I’m daydreaming about the guys. Some songs are on the list for the lyrics, some songs have actually influenced scenes I’ve written or plan to write, some songs are on there just for the feel of the music. I was considering just doing an 8tracks playlist, but I was curious. Would anyone be interested in commentary on why each track was chosen?

[shiftingdynamics]

Reblog if you are a fanfiction author and would like your readers to put one of your fic titles in your ask + questions about it

1: What inspired you to write the fic this way?

2: What scene did you first put down?

3: What's your favorite line of narration?

4: What's your favorite line of dialogue?

5: What part was hardest to write?

6: What makes this fic special or different from all your other fics?

7: Where did the title come from?

8: Did any real people or events inspire any part of it?

9: Were there any alternate versions of this fic?

10: Why did you choose this pairing for this particular story?

11: What do you like best about this fic?

12: What do you like least about this fic?

13: What music did you listen to, if any, to get in the mood for writing this story? Or if you didn't listen to anything, what do you think readers should listen to to accompany us while reading?

14: Is there anything you wanted readers to learn from reading this fic?

15: What did you learn from writing this fic?

[shiftingdynamics]

[Ficlet] Cliff’s Edge

Making a list of kinks and sexual experimentation the guys could try their hand at. Any suggestions? Feel free to drop them in my Ask Box.

Some Steve/Tony, crossed wires, and edging.

warnings for: miscommunication, oral sex, kink negotiations, edging, frottage

882 words

++++++++++

"No...!" Steve whined, his back arching as he tried to shift and curl up away from Tony. Drawing away like he was burned, Tony sat up on his heels and leaned back to avoid getting a knee in his side. He wasn't sure what exactly he'd done to cause this reaction, but he wasn't going to push with Steve's distress.

Steve buried his face in the pillows and groaned, his hair a halo of mussed dandelion fluff against the fabric. He was beautifully wrecked, with his bitten red lips parted as he panted and the blush of pleasure leaving him pink from the top of his head all the way down his chest and over his shoulders. "I'm not ready..." he whimpered, a hushed and desperate sound hitching with his heavy breathing.

Tony swallowed, still tasting Steve's precum on his tongue, as he tried to replay the last few moments. They had only gotten so far as Tony going down on Steve, his mouth on his cock and hands straying no lower than his balls. It wasn't that they haven't gone any further than that before, either. Steve seemed like he was enjoying himself the whole time, smiling and moaning, his thighs trembling and abdominals tensing as Tony brought him close to orgasm. Tony had no idea what boundery he'd crossed or how, but he only hoped he wasn't crossing another as he put a gentle hand on Steve's hip. "We don't have to do anything," he said, hoping it sounded soothing dispite the rasp from having Steve's dick down his throat.

Turning back to Tony and grabbing up the hand that touched him, Steve tugged Tony closer. "I don't want to stop."

He resisted being pulled in, cupping Steve's face with his free hand. "Babe, we've got some shorted wires in our communication. You're mixing signals. You have to tell me what you want or I can't give it to you."

The flush of Steve's skin only turned darker, his expression turning shy. "I just... I was gonna... and I didn't want it to end so soon."

With a shake of his head, Tony chuckled. "Steve, you can come half a dozen times in two hours. I'm not sure you have an 'end'."

Steve rolled his eyes and sat up so he could look Tony in the eye. "But that's it. I don't want to. I just want to... hold off."

"Of course you'd be into edging," Tony smirked, pecking a kiss at Steve's lips. Steve chased after his mouth as he drew back, only to have Steve nuzzle at his throat when he turned his head.

"What's edging?" Steve asked on an exhale, his breath hot as he dragged his lips against the stubble on the underside of Tony's chin.

Leave it to Steve to get right back into the mood, his cock never flagging once. Tony had gone mostly limp in his panic, but Steve's renewed interest was bringing his dick back to attention. "Hmm, edging is just what you want. Getting you right to the edge without you tipping over it, as many times as you can handle." Steve hummed a pleased sound of agreement as he shifted to sitting on his knees, too, for better access at nibbling Tony's ear. "Now, the question is: would you like to come whenever you're ready? Or do you need me to tell you when to come?"

"I'm about as good at following your orders as you are mine," Steve snickered into Tony's collarbone, licking at the salt of his skin in the hallow of his throat. "But I'd be happy to take any suggestions you may have to offer."

Tony laughed out loud as he pushed Steve back into the pillows. "Yep, okay. I'll be sure to run that right by you. 'I think you've had enough. You might want to come now.' I going to feel like a bartender cutting you off."

Except it ended up being nothing like that.

He used his mouth and hands to work Steve to a trembling mess, just to stop and hold tight to the base of Steve's dick. And each time, as Tony brought Steve right up to the cusp, he found himself lovingly taunting Steve to fall over the edge. "Come on, babe. So beautiful when you come--won't you show me?" Steve would writhe and whine, fighting against the sound of Tony's voice as much as his own body. With each avoided climax, Steve would give a breathy laugh, a little victorious smile.

Steve finally lost it when Tony brought himself into play. Other than a few strokes here and there or rubbing against the comforter when laying on his stomach, Tony denied himself the pleasure of joining in. But after an hour, Tony couldn't resist his own desires any longer and knelt up between Steve's legs so he could get their cocks together. He worked both hands to get as much contact as possible over them both as he stroked, watching Steve pant and arch underneath him. Steve fought to the very end, biting his bottom lip raw and squeezing his eyes tightly shut. But the moment Tony moaned, the first spatter of heat hitting Steve's chest, Steve's breath hitched as he finally surrendered and fell with him.

[shiftingdynamics]

Happy holidays to all my followers. Steve and Bucky are certainly enjoying themselves on this Christmas evening, cuddling up to Tony and sitting on his lap as they croon "Santa Baby" in his ear, sultry and low like the late gorgeously fabulous Eartha Kitt.

[shiftingdynamics]

So, I’m pooling together some ideas. Anyone have some kinks they could suggest? I’m asking for a friend Steve.