#anyway great dream thank you brain for this rare moment of fun 10/10 would like to know what joke I said though

[lonicera-edulis]

A month ago I had a brief moment in dream where I was Bofur. Who forgot to put trousers on for some reason and made some joke which I didn't memorize sadly.

[sugarless--girl]

Day 4: Café — Celegiri

Kyoko meets Celestia at her favorite coffeeshop

Read on AO3

Kyoko had been frequenting the same café for a year now as it had the best coffee around her campus. She was a bit of a coffee snob and thus liked her cup to be made perfectly. Her best friend, Makoto, was a hot chocolate connoisseur and was absolutely useless when it came to what actually went into a good cup of coffee. Luckily, The Grind always had something good.

She went to her usual spot in the back corner of the café, near a large window. It was nice and secluded and that more than made up for the fact that she had to share the table. Kyoko had chosen that table when the rush was overwhelming enough that there were no empty tables left so she was left to share it with another college student. That other college student wore a gothic Lolita ensemble that made her stand-out quite a bit. Kyoko didn’t mind sharing the table with that girl as it was much better than sharing it with the frat guys that had been eyeing her help since she stepped into the café.

And it had turned into a bit of a routine. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Kyoko would stop by the café before her 9AM class and study for a bit at the secluded tables. The other girl would be—9 times out of 10—reading some book. The book would vary greatly and it wasn’t hard to deduce that she was an English major or something else similar—most college didn’t have to luxury of reading for pleasure. Either that or she had a great deal of free time.

The girl smiled at her when she sat in her usual spot and Kyoko returned it with her own rare smile. She had a cute smile. They didn’t speak much to each other—or at all, if Kyoko was being honest here—and mostly kept to themselves. But today, Kyoko recognized the author of the book the girl was reading.

“Eoin Colfer? Wasn’t he the one that wrote the Artemis Fowl series?” Kyoko asked, breaching their self-imposed, no-talking clause.

The girl simply smiled. “Yes, it’s another one of his standalone books. It’s a mystery novel,” she said, lifting the book to show the cover. Half-Moon Investigations.

Kyoko nodded and thought for a moment. “Was it assigned by one of your professors or—?”

The dark-haired girl shook her head, her raven-twintails bouncing with the movement. “Nope. It’s a children’s book after all. I’ve been a bit brain-dead after my first set of midterms and thought something easy to read would be for the best.”

Kyoko raised an eyebrow. “So you decide to fix this….by reading more.”

“It’s better than lying around thinking of god-knows-what. Better to distract your mind than to get distracted by the overwhelming despair of life,” she said airily.

“Not a bad idea,” Kyoko said, quirking a smile. “Are these your first midterms or what?”

The girl smile widened as if she sensed the direction of Kyoko’s probing questions. She couldn’t help it—Kyoko was a criminal justice major and it was in her nature to be curious of others. “I’m a third-year. What about you?”

“Third-year as well. Kyoko Kirigiri.” Kyoko stated simply

“Celestia Ludenberg, pleased to meet you.” Celestia (wasn’t it nice to finally attach a name to her face?) said, dipping her head in greeting.

And thus it became part of their routine. They’d share a table, three times per week, quietly doing their own work but occasionally adding remarks on. Celestia had a deep interest in horror—as if you couldn’t see that through her gothic Lolita fashion—and enjoyed whatever tidbit of criminal psychology Kyoko had to offer. She enjoyed these talks as Celestia was a good conversationalist. It had been some time since she met someone she enjoyed talking with this much. Makoto was fun and all, but there was distinct lack of spark. Celestia….captivated her somehow.

“There are these ridiculous tests that go around on the internet that claim that you can predict a person’s psychopathy.” Kyoko said, sighing as she glanced down at her notes. She had been studying before the topic of what she was learning in class came up. Their current unit in her criminal psychology was on psychopathic traits. It was a topic she was highly interested in but somehow the internet had to ruin it. So, she had a bit of a beef to pick with the online articles running the ridiculous tests.

“Like?” Celestia asked, lacing her fingers underneath her chin.

“Okay, I’ll tell you a story that’s floating around. So the story goes that this girl is attending the funeral of her mother. She met an amazing guy there--her dream guy, essentially. And so she falls in love with him"

"That fast?" Celestia asked, unimpressed.

"It’s part of the riddle, so just go along with it." Kyoko said, smiling. “Don’t believe in love at first sight?”

“I believe in attraction at first sight, but love? Whoever says love is lying to themselves.”

“Harsh.”

“Harsh, but true. It takes getting to know a person, doesn’t it?”

Like we are, right now? Kyoko wanted to ask but it didn’t seem right or appropriate to tease about their friendship like that. It rubbed her in the wrong way. So she did the next best thing and changed the subject.

"Anyway, a few days later, the girl kills her sister. Why?"

Celestia’s fingers tapped her chin, and Kyoko noted the decorative jewelry she wore. How did she have the time to get dressed in the morning? And for that matter, how did she keep her fingernails so perfectly painted. Her thin, long fingers always stood out to Kyoko. They were so elegant—more so with the accessories.

“Is it because she wanted to see the man again?” Celestia asked and Kyoko’s attention snapped back to her.

“Yes.” Kyoko said, slightly taken back that she answered the question so fast. Well, perhaps it wasn’t a surprise consider how smart the other college student was. “How did you know?”

“Well I knew because this was a riddle. If you said story I wouldn’t have guessed otherwise. Maybe I would’ve said that she found out the man was dating her sister and she kills her in a fit of jealousy. But riddles are written so that all the necessary information is in the riddle itself.”

“That does make sense.”

“Though it’s not a very interesting riddle,” Celestia said. “It’s not particularly logical”

Kyoko smiled. “That’s the point though. They say that most psychopaths would get the riddle.”

If it was even possible, Celestia looked even more unimpressed. “Really now?”

“The riddle was said to be developed by a famous psychologist but of course, it doesn’t actually say who.”

“So it’s fake.”

“Most definitely.”

“I see…..”

“Either way, it turns up every now and then in articles. It’s frustrating because it perpetuates this idea that psychopaths are boogeymen to be feared as they’re not like you and I. While it’s true that they have different brain chemistry from the majority, it doesn’t mean that they’re liable to go on killing sprees. I rather dislike pop psychology.”

“Well said.” Celestia said with a smile. “You’re quite passionate about this, aren’t you?”

“It is my major. Not much sense in majoring in a subject I don’t like.”

“That’s quite admirable.”

“You’re full of compliments today, huh?” Kyoko asked, arching an eyebrow

Celestia just covered her mouth and laughed. Kyoko admired Celestia delicate mannerisms—something she lacked. The black-haired girl would’ve stood out in a crowd, simply with the way she carried herself.

“Is it so wrong to admire someone for their passion? I feel like everyone I run into is just going through the motions. It’s refreshing, honestly.” Celestia said, stirring her tea (she’d switch it up every now and then). Kyoko stared at her, trying to see if Celestia meant anything deeper than that. She wasn’t sure.

“You’re not so bad yourself.” Kyoko said, tucking a purple strand behind an ear. She kept her eyes locked with Celestia, unwilling to break eye contact in case it broke this strange atmosphere.

Celestia, looked away.

“It’s time for your class isn’t it?” Celestia asked, sounding distant. Kyoko wanted to stay with her longer but she knew it wasn’t practical.

“Yeah…I’ll see you on Friday?” She said as she gathered her textbook and notes.

“Of course.”

Kyoko drummed her fingers in annoyance. She sat in her usual spot at their Café but this time with Makoto across her.

“Are you sure she’s gonna show up? It’s nearing finals you know.” Makoto asked as he took a sip of his disgustingly sweet drink.

“She always sits here.” Kyoko said, still glancing around.

“Why don’t we ask the baristas if they’ve seen her around? If she’s a regular then they have to know when she shows up.” Makoto suggested before glancing to the register.

She blinked. Why hadn’t she considered that? Kyoko wasn’t in her right state of mind if she forgot about an insanely obvious answer. Makoto was shooting her worried looks so he clearly noticed as well. Perhaps the stress of her upcoming finals was stressing her out.

“Yeah….let’s go do that.”

A girl with brown hair tied up in a bun was manning the register. “Asahina?” Makoto asked, as he read off the name tag. “We were wonder if you’ve seen a girl with, um—“

“With black hair and red eyes come in recently.” Kyoko interjected smoothly. “She usually wears some sort of gothic Lolita ensemble”

Asahina blinked. “You mean Celestia?”

“Yes.” Kyoko asked, as she folded her arms. She gripped them, as if to give herself support.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen her for a while now….” Asahina said, trailing off.

“When did she last come in?”

“I dunno, a week ago?”

Great. That was around the time they stopped meeting. Kyoko sighed. “Alright, thank you.”

“You’re her friend right? Did you guys have a fight or something?”

Kyoko frowned at the intrusive question but answered anyway. “We haven’t. I just haven’t seen her for a while now. Yeah.”

Makoto’s expression was sympathetic. He turned to Asahina to ask her a question of his own. “Do you know if anyone knows where she’s been?”

“I can try asking around.”

“Please.” Kyoko said, trying to keep the hint of desperation from creeping in.

Asahina turned around and called out, “HEY GUYS! Have you seen Celestia??” Kyoko winced at the volume but no one in the café seemed to mind all that much.

“Celestia?” A large muscular girl said. “I think I saw her at the campus Starbucks the other day.”

Asahina gasped dramatically. “She ditched us for….Starbucks?? Wait, Sakura why were you at Starbucks??”

Kyoko would’ve paid a bit more attention to their conversation but she was already hurrying back to her seat to gather her things. She heard Makoto thank them before catching up to her.

“You’re gonna go now?”

“No time like the present.” Kyoko muttered

“Uh, okay.” Makoto said without adding anything else. She appreciated the fact that he knew when to back off. Kyoko wasn’t sure if she could properly convey the jumble of thoughts running through her head.

It didn’t take long to reach the campus Starbucks. Kyoko stepped into the café and scanned it for a familiar face. It seemed like luck was on her side as she spotted Celestia immediately. Maybe it was because she’d barely seen the other girl for a while now, because Kyoko focused in on Celestia, to create some sort of tunnel vision. She missed her. It had only been a week and yet she missed Celestia.

Kyoko hadn’t felt this strongly about anyone in, well, ever. Was this….

She’d examine her feelings later.

“Is that her?” Makoto asked, as he went to stand next to Kyoko.

“Mmh.”

“Alright, I’m gonna go get hot chocolate.” Makoto said, thoughtfully stepping out of the picture.

Kyoko strode towards Celestia. She pushed aside any doubts she might’ve had—she needed to hear it from the source, herself. No point in listening to the irrational thoughts in her mind.

She slowed to stop in front of Celestia and waited for the other girl. It was cute how sucked into a book Celestia would. It’d take a few moments for her to realize that Kyoko was staring at her. Celestia didn’t take all that long to notice Kyoko though.

“Ditched the Grind for Starbucks, huh?”

“K-Kyoko,” Celestia stuttered out and dropped her eyes to her lap. Kyoko pulled the chair to the table and sat down.

“Was it something I did?”

“What?” Celestia asked as her eyes snapped to Kyoko’s.

“You weren’t at our usual spot for a week now.”

“I….”

“So, if I did anything wrong I apologize. But I can’t fix it if you don’t tell me.” Kyoko had wracked her brains to see what she did wrong to upset the other girl but nothing came up. But she’d rather fix whatever it was she did than let it fester and ruin their friendship.

Celestia toyed with the pages of the book before she said, “it wasn’t anything you did.”

“Then what?”

“Well….suppose….”

Kyoko waited patiently

“Suppose I caught feelings for you?”

Kyoko blinked. “That’s it?”

Celestia glared at her. “What do you mean that’s it?? It’s been me for a while now.”

“No I mean—” This wasn’t what she was expecting at all but it was….a welcome surprise, “—what made you think I would’ve rejected you?”

“Well the statistics of you being anything but straight held me back.” Celestia said quietly

“I’m bisexual.” Kyoko said calmly—her outward expression doing nothing to betray the thudding of her heart. “Not to mention I’ve rather enjoyed your company this past month.”

“So you mean to say…..” Celestia asked looking up, straight into Kyoko’s eyes.

“Well, you’re going to have to spell it out for me.” Kyoko said with a wry smile.

“You’re going to make me work for this aren’t you?” Celestia asked with a pout

“Call it your punishment for ditching me.”

“Well, maybe I won’t ask you out.” Celestia huffed, but her smile quickly gave her away

“So you don’t want to see that horror movie with me on Friday? I can’t believe you’re going to turn down free tickets.”

“I—since when were you so smooth??”

“One of us has to be.”

Celestia looked unimpressed but let out a small laugh. “Fine, I’ll grace you with my presence.”

“So generous.” Kyoko mocked before turning serious. “Come to me next time, alright?”

“Alright.” Celestia murmured. “I kinda hate the coffee here anyway.”

Some links to when Kyoko was talking about the psychopath riddle: link 1, link 2

[nade2308]

Love lasts forever

Written for: stanclub2k followers milestone challenge.

Prompt: "Who hurt you?" with Stucky.

Pairings: Stucky (Steve Rogers x Bucky Barnes).

Other pairings: Sam Wilson x Riley and past Bucky Barnes x Brock Rumlow

Characters: Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Riley (minor appearance and mentioned), Tony Stark (mentioned), Natasha Romanoff (minor appearance), Brock Rumlow, Jack Rollins (mentioned), Alexander Pierce (mentioned) Barnes and Rogers families (mentioned).

A/N: Thank you @stanclub for organizing this challenge. It was fun to get another story out in such a short time. I wrote a part for this story last month but lost the inspiration for a bit. Then another story took over my time and I thought I'd have time to finish it. I never thought it would get past 3k (before ideas started pouring in my brain and discussing it with my friends was proving to spur my muse). In the end I have this story that's 9.3k long (the last three days were spent writing fervently).

Thanks to @lisamott9 and @82tweeder for the help and encouragement on this story.

...

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Nah, it’s okay. I need to meet more friends anyway. Tony’s advice.”

“Can’t believe I’m agreeing with Stark, but you really need to, my friend. Okay, Steve. See you at 8.”

“I’ll be there.”

Steve hung up and looked at the clock. It was almost 5 and he knew that if it wasn’t something really important, Sam wouldn’t insist on bringing his friend with him last minute.

The next 2 hours were spent in sketching and outlining a logo for his next project. Steve needed to figure out the colors and how to combine them. Scratching his head, he thought about asking Sam. He took a picture of the previous logo and one of his drawing, and put the sketch into his drawing folder, before he went to his room.

Steve never cared for his appearance, always opting for casual, but tonight he felt like he could dress up a little bit. He picked his favorite navy blue button down, and the new pair of navy blue jeans he bought last week. He also put on some of the expensive - overpriced - cologne that Tony gave him for his birthday, and Steve had to admit that the fruity smell was nice. It reminded him of his late mother’s lemon pie, God bless her soul.

He took his bomber leather jacket with him, put on shoes and locked the door of his apartment behind him.

…

Bucky was miserable.

Absolutely miserable.

On a scale of 1 to 10, he was a 15.

He was angry. And mad. For letting himself go back to Brock. For giving him more ammo to hurt Bucky. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Brock in the throes of pleasure, with another man in bed. Right now he was pacing like a caged animal and judging by Sam's glare, he was wearing thin Sam's patience and support. And Sam was getting frustrated because he repeated ‘Damn Barnes, you’ll wear a hole on the floor’ more than once. But he couldn't stay in one place. Probably why he agreed to go with Sam and his friend at the bar.

Sam really liked Bucky and hated to see him so bothered. As much as Sam tried to warn Bucky not to get back to his ex, love was blind and it wasn’t exactly Bucky’s fault for falling in love with the wrong person.

A heart doesn’t choose, Sam’s mom would say right before kissing his father in front of Sam to rile him up.

Sam smiled at the memory, but he was brought back to reality when he heard a noise in the kitchen. Sam stormed in the kitchen where there were shards of glass and spilt water on the floor. Bucky looked like he was on the verge of crying and Sam wanted to tear Brock piece by piece.

“Hey, it’s just a glass.”

Bucky didn’t say anything, just looked at the mess on the floor.

“Why don’t you go and get ready, Bucky? I’ll clean this up.”

“No, I’ll-"

“James, please.”

Sam rarely used Bucky’s real name, unless there was a point to be made. Looking at the red and swollen eyes of his friend, Sam knew Bucky got the message.

“I’ll go and shower.”

“You know what would be great? Run a bath.”

“Come on, Sam, I’m not in the mood to do that.”

“What you are at the moment, is in need to get yourself back to normal. You need to care about yourself for once Bucky. You need to see yourself before the others. Go and have a nice bath. Use your favorite shampoo. And just relax.”

Bucky stood for a moment, deep in thought, weighing his options. Then he nodded, wearily. Just having his favorite shampoo at Sam's and Riley's place said a few things about him. Like the fact that he spent lots of time there.

The buckets of Rocky Road in the fridge did too.

“Do you by any chance have that lavender essential oil?”

“Do I have-? Barnes, who do you think I am? Of course I do.” Sam always had the flair for the dramatic. But it pulled a smile out of Bucky so it was worth it. “You know Riley loves that shit after you hooked him on it.

“Not my fault the guy has taste, Sammy.”

“Call me Sammy one more time Grandma Barnes…” Sam waggled a finger.

“Catch me if you can, Sammy.”

“You little shit!” Sam called after Bucky but Bucky was out of earshot already. Laughing, Sam set the timer on the coffee machine to make coffee for himself and Bucky and went to clean the kitchen floor.

…

Bucky rummaged through cupboards until he spotted the bottle with the lavender oil. He ran the hot water to the temperature he liked. Then he applied a liberal amount of oil. Bucky eyed some candles and decided to light a few to help him relax more. When everything was set, he stripped in front of the mirror and looked at himself for the first time after the shit with Brock hit the fan.

He looked gaunt, his cheeks were hollowed out, sharper than ever, the smudges under his eyes a permanent fixture he never tried to hide. His eyes were bloody and red-rimmed. And his body… he looked horrible. He was never the one to have too much weight but where he had muscle and was lean, he was skinny now and the muscles were almost non-existent.

Bucky took a deep breath. Things needed to change

Letting his mind float while he had his bath, Bucky thought only of only one thing. Meeting Sam’s friend and getting hammered. Okay, maybe two things.

…

A mug of coffee waited for him when he got out of the bathroom.

“Sam, you are an angel.”

“For putting up with your sorry ass? I am a saint.” Sam jabbed from his place on the couch, watching reruns of a TV show Bucky never got to watch. Maybe he will now that he actually had the time.

Bucky parked himself in front of the tv himself, sensing Sam's eyes on him.

“You okay, Bucky?”

Bucky let the voices in the background tune out as he thought about Sam's question.

“I think that's a loaded question and you know it Sam.”

“I have time.”

Bucky sighed.

“You were right the first two times. Brock is a bad habit. I thought I could change that. Change him. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't ask anyone to change for me, but I think I wanted the old Brock to come back. And then I just deluded myself that he was not the person he is…”

Sam nodded in thought.

“I did some thinking. Well all I do these days is think,” Bucky laughed dryly, “but I came to realize that I should work on myself more. Not let the thing with Brock hold me back. Think I gave him enough of my time and life already. And I promised to myself, this time whatever happens, I come first.”

“Atta boy. That's the spirit.”

“If he cared for me half as much as I did for him, he wouldn't do it.”

“That's right.”

“I know what you'll say and you have every right to. But I… I don't know why I did it. Why I kept going back to him. God I'm a mess.” Bucky put his face in his hands.

“No. You are not. You acknowledged the problem and you are willing to see it go. You may not think that, and I blame that asshole for fucking up with your brain, but you are worth it Bucky. Worth to love and to be taken care of. So, good riddance Brock Rumlow.” Bucky smiled. Sam’s reassurance and support meant a lot to him and if it wasn't for him and Sam's boyfriend, Riley, Bucky didn't know where he'd be today.

“Not to mention, it'll take time Barnes. But you took the first and most important step. The rest will come along in its own pace. Just don't rush it.

“Thank you Sam.”

“You don't have to thank me. Now go. I picked you an outfit for tonight. It's in my room.”

Bucky laughed. Typical Sam.

…

Bucky was dressed in a plaid shirt and black tight jeans that Sam swore accentuated his ass. Bucky glared at him with Sam replying “you have to get it out there to be seen, hon” in his best imitating a woman voice. Then he slapped him on the ass.

Bucky giggled because Sam may have been a drama queen sometimes and knew how to get on his nerves, but he was a great friend.

They got at the bar a little before 8 and as Sam turned his head around to look for his friend Bucky felt like he was in a dream. He was faced with someone he knew a long time. A very long time.

Deja vu. But it couldn't be, could it?

Sam chose that moment to go and meet his friend. Which turned out to be Bucky's deja vu.

Bucky stood frozen on the spot when he saw the tall, blond man greeting Sam. It wasn't a dream after all. "Steve," Sam's voice sounds distant in Bucky's ears, "this is the friend I mentioned. James. But he goes by-" "Bucky?" Sam raised an eyebrow, looking from one man to the other. "I guess you two know each other then." Sam grinned like he just won the lottery. "Y-yes... Bucky is my childhood best friend." "Met this punk in a back alley behind the place where I lived as a kid. Turned out he lived three houses down from me." Bucky smiled as he remembered 6 years old Steve all skin and bones against the wall defending a boy his age from a bully. "We became friends. This jerk has helped me out fighting a few bullies himself." Steve smirked. Bucky smiled sadly as he continued the thread of the conversation. "Went to the same high school even. Then... We sort of parted ways when we went to separate colleges. Haven't seen him in a while." A while being 3 years. "Great to see you man." Steve exclaimed, happiness radiating off of him. He eyed Bucky with a nostalgic look and something that even Bucky couldn't understand. Bucky smiled, despite the feeling of gloom that was there since breaking up with Brock. Steve had that effect on people. Especially on Bucky. Steve was a balm to his soul. "Can we please at least get drinks from the bar and find a booth before you two eye fuck each other right here?" Sam rolled his eyes to finish off his statement. Steve sputtered and blushed, no one has joked about him and Bucky being in a relationship in a long time. They used to get that speech from everyone (even their parents) when they were teenagers. "We are not-" "Relax, Stevie, Sam is joking. Boy just wants to get this party started." "See this, Stevie, Barnes knows me better than you do." "Okay, okay. How did you two meet anyway? Ganging up on me. Bad, bad boys." Steve's voice was chiding but he was also smiling so it lost all effect. "I'll leave that story for another night." "I'll hold you to that." Steve said and sent Sam a warning glare. "Another thing you should know about Steve is, he's like those small pitbull terriers. When they get on to something, good luck with plucking them off of you." Sam shook his head, wondering what he got himself into. "Two shots of vodka, Sammy. That work for ya’ Steve?” Steve nodded. “It's settled then. We'll find us a nice booth." Bucky said and dragged Steve with him. "Get your own vodka, Barnes!" Sam's voice carried over even as he walked towards the bar. "Bite me." Sam turned to the bartender and ordered their drinks. "Swear I'm dealing with actual children. What did I get myself into?" "Friends can be goofs too." The bartender grinned and winked at Sam. "Two shots of vodka for the goofs then and for me... surprise me." The blond placed the shots in front of Sam and glared. "This better be the last time you try to flirt with me like we haven't been together forever Samuel." "I love what my flirting does to you, babe." "Get your ass off my bar Wilson and go join your friends." "When you finish come and join us?" Riley nodded and shooed Sam away. …

“How have you been Buck?” Steve used the first available opportunity to start a conversation.

Bucky looked at him, weighing the question.

“You mean like, right now or…?”

“I mean you, Buck. How have you been?”

“You want the blunt version or the sugar coated one?”

“C'mon Buck. You know me. You can tell me everything.”

“I… um… I ended up my relationship few days ago. So not the best? But getting there.”

Steve hummed in sympathy and his blue eyes never left Bucky's face. The Bucky he remembered was always a cheerful person, and everything about him screamed “confident”. But this Bucky? It was obvious that he was in pain and it wasn't just something recent.

How did they get to this point? They used to tell everything to each other.

"Who hurt you?" Bucky was taken aback by the question. He blinked hard and focused his eyes on Steve. The look on Steve's face was inquisitive but also caring. What did he do to deserve Steve in his life? "You seem like you are in pain, Buck. And there's not an obvious physical injury - and I could tell if there was one - so it's not that kind of pain." Bucky forgot that Steve was one hell of a perspective guy. "I'm right, then." It wasn't a question. "It's a bit complicated." "I have time." Sam chose that moment to join them with their drinks. "What have I told you about eavesdropping, Wilson?" Bucky sounded annoyed but used to, like Sam had done this before. "It just happened. And to answer your question Steve, because this goof won't ever admit it if he's hurting unless it's a stubbed toe-" "Sam..." "He hurt himself." "Sam, don't-" "This fucking idiot - and you are an idiot Barnes - let himself get back to his ex for the third time. And that vile piece of scum-" "Sam, please..." Now Bucky had tears in his eyes and Steve's heart did a weird thing. He wanted to punch whoever did this to Bucky. He would do everything for Bucky. It's been a long time since he felt like this for Bucky. Maybe he didn't bury those feels as deep as he thought. Steve was very protective of Bucky as it was but in the end he had to distance himself or else he would have risked their friendship. And as much as he wanted to see them together, the possible rejection by Bucky had Steve surrendering himself to a life without his best friend. And for a while it worked. But to listen that Bucky got hurt from his ex hurt Steve too.

Sam looked from Steve to Bucky and seemed to see something because he chose to not say anything else. He sat on Bucky's left while Steve came closer to Bucky's right. Steve could hear Winnie Barnes' voice in his head "see Sarah, those two have no sense of personal space whatsoever". "I'm sorry if it sounded harsh, but I just look out for you. You are my friend Bucky. Hate to see you hurt." "I know Sam. I know." Bucky felt at ease with both Steve and Sam by his side. He knew Steve longer than Sam, but Sam was a great friend - they both were - and Bucky was grateful that God sent them both at the same time to him because of the situation he was in. Bucky was aware that Brock was an asshole and that after the second break-up it was only the need to go back and have that semblance of normal relationship. They had something good going at the start, Brock wasn't so bad, but after a while everything changed. Bucky wasn't sure why he started crying. It certainly wasn't because he wanted to go back to Brock. But he didn't give himself enough time to heal after discovering Jack Rollins in the bed Bucky and Brock shared. It hurt and it stung. More than the previous break-ups. Steve saw something in that moment and maybe ingrained from years of being Bucky's best friend or maybe from just wanting to comfort him, but he moved at the same time Sam did. Call it instinct or coincidence. The hug was unexpected and if Bucky sobbed on Steve's shoulder in the process, no one had to know but him and Steve. And maybe Sam. It felt like relief, being held and comforted, for him to rely on someone instead of being the crying shoulder. Maybe he needed this outlet. "There, there." Sam drew soothing circles on Bucky's back while Steve held on Bucky tight. Steve didn't like when people were hurt, especially Bucky. And even then he always went out of his way to make him feel better.   After a while Bucky lifted his head and looked at Steve, sniffling. "Thanks, Stevie. I'm sorry I'm a mess." "Don't mention it, Buck. Your mess is my mess, too. Want to tell me what happened?" "Maybe another time. You back to Brooklyn?" "Yeah. I think LA got enough of me already." "I'm glad." "Hey Steve..." "Listen Buck..." They both spoke at the same time and giggled. It was like old times, unaware of Sam rolling his eyes at them and leaving them to their own devices as he went to the bar to get more drinks. "You first." "No, Stevie, you first." "I was gonna ask... I haven't heard from you for a while and... um, you have the same number, right?" "No, I don't. My phone was stolen few months ago and when I went to get a new one... they said that they couldn't recover my contacts. If I'd known that you were a friend of Sam’s I would've asked him." "Don't worry. Now we found each other again. And I'd like to see you more now that I'm back. We have lots of things to talk about." "True." And certainly there were things you couldn't say over the phone. ... The rest of the night went smooth. The initial thought of Bucky getting hammered flew out of the window when he met Steve again. Catching up with his best friend was more important than alcohol and maybe that's what he needed. To talk and forget for a while why he was there at the bar. Now that Steve was back home everything looked easier. What Brock did to him was still there, it would still hurt, but with Steve beside him, Bucky found it could be bearable. Sam called it a night shortly after Riley joined them when his shift ended. Sam wanted to have some alone time with his boyfriend before Bucky decided to join them. "So, Sam and the bartender, huh?" "Yup. Don't tell me you didn't know." "I knew he had a boyfriend but never met him." "How did you two met anyway?" "In college. I minored and he majored in psychology. We stayed in contact even when I moved to LA." Bucky nodded and was wondering how they hadn't met before Bucky... He chased those thoughts away because he didn't need his gloomy mood to ruin the night. "The world is small." Bucky concluded. "Definitely. So, I have a suggestion. I assume you don't have your own place..." Bucky smiled. "Yes, you guess correct. The break-up didn't go well and I... I am crashing at Sam's ever since." "Well if you wouldn't mind, you can come stay at my place tonight? Give the boys some privacy." Bucky wanted to say yes. He really did. "It's not like we haven't had sleepovers before,  Buck. Plus I have enough space. What do you say?" And how was anyone able to resist Steve when he asked them with those Bambi eyes? "Okay. I concede defeat." "My place then." "Your place." They both found out that Sam paid for everyone - and after an extensive torture (the taxi driver had to laugh when Bucky tickled Steve) - Steve admitted they may have talked about things when Bucky went to the bathroom. They finally arrived at Steve's place. It was... spacious to say the least. Bucky took it all in and gaped. "This is... amazing Steve." "Thanks. You wanna watch TV and order in or you want to go to bed?" It wasn't late, barely even 11.30 and Bucky certainly had nothing else to do on a Saturday night so he agreed on the offer. After a while he was relaxed enough to doze off. Food in his belly, the distant sound of the voices on one of the crime shows they played late at night and the warm presence of Steve. For the first time in the last week things were on the 'up' side. And waking up covered with the softest fleece blanket ever made was a nice bonus. …

Bucky found a note on the night table that read "See you later, had to run to the store." Bucky felt warm and fuzzy, both from meeting Steve again after so long, and because he was covered in this soft blanket that brought back memories from his childhood. Bucky stretched cat-like on the couch and sighed. The sun was up, and warmth spread in the living room of Steve's apartment. Judging by the note Steve wasn't gone long, but Bucky figured he could lounge a bit more. Steve was always the early bird, Bucky preferring to stay  under the blankets for "5 more minutes, please Stevie". And being the night owl continued well into adulthood. Old habits die hard. Bucky let himself close his eyes again, relishing in the softness of the cushion under his head and the sun caressing his cheeks. He wasn't asleep, more like drifting off and thinking of him and Steve. When Bucky was 7 he met Steve in that back alley, trying to fight that bully kid for picking on one of his peers. Steve was 6 at the time, all skin and bones and a strong will. The numerous ailments didn't help him most of the time, Bucky remembered numerous days when he had to bring homework to Steve and tend to him. Sarah, Steve's mom was a nurse that sometimes took double shifts to bring home enough money so they could make a decent living. By the time Bucky was 8, the Barnes' had adopted Sarah and Steve as theirs. Bucky smiled as he remembered Steve becoming even more of a fierce fighter at school and back alleys. The moment he became a teenager some of Steve's medical conditions receeded. Not that you could do much about food allergies or asthma, but he got better. To everyone's joy. And about the time Bucky started to notice that he was feeling something more for Steve. Something that wasn't just friendship. Coming out wasn't easy. Bucky thought that Steve could tell Bucky had feelings for him, but then, Steve had known him for a better part of his life then and supported him in everything (no matter how stupid it may have looked at the time. Steve had a moto in life: you won't know if you don't try) and Bucky being gay didn't put Steve off. With time Bucky tried to quell on his feelings and desires. He felt guilty that he jerked off to the thoughts of his best friend, like he was dirtying up their friendship. And Steve was straight (at least as far as their high school discoveries went). Those internal struggles made Bucky stronger and soon he was able to blame his mood swings to the teenage hormones coursing through his body when in reality it was Steve going out with Connie, then with Bonnie and finally starting a relationship with Peggy Carter. The night Bucky learned about that was the first time he got drunk. And cried until he couldn't. Bucky opened his eyes when he felt tears stinging the corners of his eyes. He knew it was bound to happen - the trip down memory lane. After that, their friendship kind of fell to the backburner, Steve went on dates with Peggy and had little to no time for Bucky. Bucky used that spare time to bury himself in his school books. When Steve was 17 his mom died from cancer and even though it was a horrible event, Bucky had his friend back at least. Soon after, Peggy announced that she was leaving to go to college in London, back to her roots. A messy goodbye with lots of promises but Bucky knew nothing would come out of it. Something in Steve broke when Sarah died. Something not even Peggy could help fix it. Bucky sighed. He didn't need to think of the past. It was as it was, they went their different paths, he became a mechanical engineer and Steve went to art school. Then a job opportunity came at him when a renowned gallery from LA loved his drawings so much they asked for him straight away. And it turned out they weren't accepting 'no' for an answer. The second worst hangover Bucky had was the morning after Steve left for LA. It was a bit hurtful when Steve said to Bucky that night, that nothing tied him with Brooklyn anymore. Bucky wanted to yell at him that Steve had him to stay for. But Bucky could not ask that from Steve. It wasn't Steve's fault. And Steve deserved the best and not Bucky holding him back from what he could do once he got his wings. Bucky could move on. He'd done it before. The contact between them was far and few and after a while it was reduced to birthdays and holidays. Steve was always busy and after a while Bucky landed a job with Stark Industries so it wasn't like he could spare time. Then along came Brock. Something that started as a fling and ended up breaking Bucky's heart more than once. Bucky was sure he liked Brock. Maybe even loved him. Never as much as he did Steve but loved him nonetheless. Bucky couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when Brock started acting strange but he was more controlling, never showing too much affection and the periods after Bucky would break up with him until Brock came to ask for forgiveness were longer each time. Bucky tried to erase the image of Brock and Jack out of his mind, but he couldn't. He also knew their last attempt was a desperate cry for help, Bucky's for that matter but he thought he could make things work. Turned out that Brock was stringing him along the whole time. But like Sam said, 'good riddance'. Bucky took a deep breath and checked the clock. He was awake for total of 20 minutes. Steve should be back any minute. Bucky decided that taking a shower wouldn't hurt. ... Clearly the shower was not the greatest idea Bucky had because he forgot he had no clothes with him at Steve's. Luckily he had his phone on the counter. Embarrassing as it was he fired off a text to Steve. Bucky was glad they exchanged numbers last night. An answer came right away like Steve was already back. ‘Second door to the left. Guest room’. Bucky thanked his lucky stars and hurried off to get dressed. Steve developed physically while in high school but he apparently got more buff because the sweater and sweatpants were hanging on Bucky a bit. Or maybe he should hit the gym again and return to his normal weight and gain some muscle. Definitely worth thinking of again but he'd care more about it later. Now he had to face Steve. It smelled of cinnamon and bacon and eggs and toast and Bucky was drawn to the food as a moth was drawn to a flame. "Morning Princess. How was sleep?" "It was good. Really good. So, food?" "Always straight to the point Buck. There is bacon and eggs, toast with butter and cinnamon rolls." "Can I have all?" "Suit yourself. And I suppose both orange juice and coffee." "You know me the best Steve." They spent breakfast in a pleasant silence, enjoying their food. "So listen Steve, I had absolutely a great night and this breakfast is amazing but I gotta go." Steve's face fell and Bucky wondered if it was because he'd planned something for them or something else. "Uh, okay, but we'll see each other again, right?" Bucky nodded with a smile. "Now that I found you again, I'm not letting you go." Steve chuckled and that adorable dimple on his chin appeared. One of the many little things that Bucky loved about Steve. "I gotta work on a project for Monday. I've been slacking off ever since... and I want to get it over with." "It's understandable." Bucky was ready and by the door when he was pulled in a bear hug. He got lost in the embrace. Steve hugged like a koala clinging on a tree. "Still giving the best damn hugs in the world, Rogers." Bucky exclaimed. "I have to keep my reputation." "Thanks." "For what?" "For everything." "Don't mention it, Buck. Always." …

The next few weeks were spent in catching up. What Steve did in LA, other places he visited, his work and all the little details texts and calls couldn't cover. Bucky learned that Tony, his boss and friend was also Steve's friend. How the universe connected Sam and Tony with Steve without Bucky's knowledge was beyond Bucky. It was one week until Steve's birthday and both he and Bucky had a day off. When the offer came to spend the afternoon at Prospect Park and grab a bite afterwards was attractive enough that Bucky agreed immediately. If Bucky was honest with himself, Steve got him at food. It was a nice and sunny summer day. Bucky was enjoying the sun and the slight warm wind while Steve held his end on a small talk and sketching. Bucky always loved seeing Steve in his element. Nature always had that effect on him. "Hey, Steve?" "Hm?" "I wanna ask you something. You don't have to..." "What?" "What made you come back to Brooklyn? I like that you are here again, but it seemed like you were doing well at the gallery. Getting to create your own art. Be yourself." Steve closed his sketch pad and turned to look at Bucky fully. "Pierce, the gallery owner was a bit eccentric." And by bit Steve meant completely. "He was trying to convince me to try and change my style and I didn't want to. We bickered more than agreeing on things. Plus he led things his old fashioned way and for a while things didn't click. We had a big fight. We didn't reach an agreement. That's all." Bucky nodded and seemed like he was trying to understand why. Still something didn't add up. But he figured it was a thing they'd discuss another day.  For now he just let himself enjoy the day with Steve. …

It was another month of texts and Skype sessions before Steve and Bucky had a chance to see each other. Stark made a deal with a company for new metal prosthetics and Bucky was the lead engineer on the project, being it his idea. He barely had time to see the inside of his home (he finally found a decent place at the start of August).

The time he got he devoted to Steve. Bucky didn't know if it was the few times he saw Steve or the fact that Steve was back in his life, but the feelings he had for his best friend started to resurface. Or maybe he was still healing and his broken heart clutched on every safe option. But in the end Bucky came to a realization that he always loved Steve. You truly love only once in your life and all that.

Seeing Steve so live and animated was worth every heartache. Bucky’s eyes were closing and he kept from yawning, only Steve's voice from his laptop speakers kept him from falling face first onto the keyboard. "So this client - she wants to buy this painting and she insists on the price that it's too high, when in fact the painting was not for sale. It’s decoration on the wall and we... Uh Buck, you okay?" "Huh? Wha?" "You look like you are tired." "That's because I am." Bucky couldn't stop the yawn this time. "Why didn't you say so? My thing can wait." "Nah, please go on. I am-" yawn "-awake." "Uh-huh. I can see that. Look, I have a day off tomorrow, so maybe if you can, we can go to lunch?" "Sure. Tony gave me 3 days off. We finally closed this project and he said I deserved a breather. To be honest, I planned to spend 2 days straight on sleeping." "You can still sleep and have lunch with me?" Bucky couldn't say no to that adorable Golden Retriever staring at him. Steve always knew when to use them puppy dog eyes and Bucky fell for them every single time. "Goof." "That means we'll see each other tomorrow, right?" "It's a date." The second those words got out of his mouth, Bucky panicked. He knew he shouldn't talk with Steve when tired. When tired or drunk, Bucky always said things he tried to keep locked inside. "It's a date." Steve grinned. That night Bucky lay in bed, unable to fall asleep. ... Steve was nervous. What should he wear? He knew it was just a lunch with Bucky. And with Bucky he didn't have to put up an image. Bucky had seen him at his worst and wouldn't care even if Steve appeared in sweatpants. But still, Steve was panicking inside for a bit because it was the first time Steve asked Bucky out. It felt like asking out. He was also afraid that he was too eager when Bucky said "it's a date" last night. Fact was, Steve’s feelings not just returned, but intensified. But he had to squash down on those hopes. No way Bucky could feel the same for him as he did for Bucky. Steve schooled his features as he saw Bucky entering in the restaurant. Once Bucky noticed Steve a grin lit his face. They hugged and sat down. "Hey there stranger." Steve joked. "I don't know who the stranger is here, Rogers." Steve had a quip ready when the waitress interrupted them with bringing the menus.

“I'll have hash browns.” Bucky concluded after a moment.

“I'll have the same, thank you.”

The waitress wrote down their order and retreated. They made small talk until their food arrived. Steve telling Bucky about his almost-sale yesterday and Bucky elaborating on the prosthetics he worked on. "I think that it will help vets and accident victims that lost their arm or both arms. It's this metal, vibranium, that gets shaped in the form of the other arm and there is a mechanism that will connect the nerve endings of what's left in the arm to the wires inserted in the prosthetic. You can move it and everything. It's still new, got the idea couple of years ago but started developing it last year. Tony thinks that we can start the trial period. I just have to figure how to make the vibranium lighter. Don't want the prosthetic to weigh more than what the other arm does and to cause more problems than solve them." "That's amazing, Buck. Truly a great idea. I'm sure lots of people can benefit from your research and the end result. Hope you figure it out soon." "Thanks. And the best thing is Tony - he made a deal with the VA in Brooklyn, that we'd give discount to those that can't pay full price for the prosthetic and in case the person is not able to afford it we'd give it for free. That's actually how I met Sam. He volunteers there." "That's wonderful and humble, Bucky!" "It's mostly Tony. My idea with his finances. I think that after he learned what his father's partner did with the weapons... He's trying to redeem himself for letting it happen in front of his eyes." "Yeah, I heard. Too bad it fall all on the Stark company and Tony as one half of the partnership." "Yes. But Tony did good on selling that company and starting his own. I was lucky to get the job when I did." "How did you come up with this idea?" "Curious as always..." Bucky sighed. "Remember that car accident I was in 2 years ago?" "Yes. Why?" "I might have... not told you the full extent of my injuries." "You what?" "I was seriously injured. My left arm was broken in a few places and my shoulder was moved out of the socket. It was a painful and slow healing process. Hurt a lot. What was the worst, for a while I couldn't move the arm. Had to do everything with one arm. So I thought, if I felt like this with my arm at least being attached to my body still - and possibility of getting it back to fully functional - how does it feel to those that don't have it anymore?" Steve looked like something physically hurt him. "I'm okay now, Steve. Don't worry. Have some scarring on my shoulder and chest from the surgery but I'm okay otherwise." "Okay if you say so. But - next time you tell me if something happens. Everything Whatever it is." "Deal."

“I mean it. Don't make me question you.”

“I give you my word.”

“Good.” …

Brock was watching Bucky and the blond with him closely for a while now, only seeing it was Bucky when Bucky laughed at something the guy with him said. Something in Brock stirred then and he got up from the table he sat on, alone. Jack gave him the boot soon after Bucky found them together and now he spent most of his days wandering around and eating in restaurants. Alone. When he saw Bucky it was like he struck gold. Brock decided to make his presence known by going to their table. "Well hello there, Bucky." Bucky froze and he dropped his fork. The loud clatter made Steve carefully place his fork in the plate and look at the man that joined them. Apparently Bucky knew him. "Buck, who's this?" Steve asked calmly. Bucky meant to tell Steve about Brock. He really did. But when their reunion happened it was a fresh wound, one that Bucky didn’t one to talk about. He just delayed the inevitable. Until he didn't think of it anymore. But seeing Brock in the same restaurant where he had lunch with Steve wasn't how Bucky wanted things to happen. And now Steve wanted to know who the guy was. "You are Bucky's new guy, huh? No wonder he ditched me last minute. And here I thought I did something wrong." "Brock..." Bucky didn't dare look at Brock. He was too shocked by Brock's words. "Did he tell you he tends to get back to me? He always does. Don't know what took him so long this time." "You and I both know I won't get back to you!" Bucky spat and finally looked at Brock. He could feel Steve's eyes on him. "We'll see about that. So, Bucky's new fuck buddy, nice to meet you. I'm Brock-" "Fuck off, Rumlow!" Bucky suddenly roared. "Get out! You have no right to come here and barge in on my lunch with whoever I want to go out." "I think that I actually do." "Excuse me?" Bucky heard Steve clear his throat but he was too busy staring at Brock, scared the man will try something. "Let's walk it out, buddy. No need to make a scene." "I am not making a scene, just wanted to-" "Let's walk it out." Steve punctuated the sentence with grabbing Brock by the arm and dragging him out of the restaurant and on the sidewalk. Bucky watched as Steve talked and Brock got more annoyed with every second. And then Steve swung with his fist and landed a punch square on Brock's face. The rest of the people at the restaurant watched in awe. Steve said something else and then got back inside. By that point Bucky started to come down from his shock and the brief adrenaline rush for speaking up to Brock - something he hadn't done before. It was a first and scared him. What if Brock came for him. What if...

"Buck?" Steve's voice sounded like from miles away and not next to him.   "Bucky... pal, what is it?" It's only then that Bucky has moved his head to face Steve. "Yeah, Stevie?" "Are you okay?" "Yeah... I..." Bucky cleared his throat, but the unfocused look into his eyes still present. "I'm okay." Steve didn't say anything after that, but something told him that the guy interrupting their lunch was Bucky's ex. The way he talked about Bucky and assuming Steve was Bucky's "fuck buddy". Steve felt better for punching him. That will teach him not to mess with Bucky. "Serves him right, you know?" "What does?" "You punching him... he deserves it. He's a douche. I just can't believe how was I able to stay with him for so long?" "We can't order our hearts how to feel about someone Buck. It's over now." "But I was so stupid. God knows what shit he's been talking about me and I was with him- What he did-" "Hey," Steve put his hand over Bucky's on the table, rubbing soothing circles over Bucky's wrist, "You are worth more than what that asshole thought you were. You are strong and smart and pretty. You don't need him to feel better about yourself. Those that truly know you for who you are, would not give a damn about what he says about you. His words are a twisted sense of reality. And fuck his opinion on you. It doesn't matter to me Buck." Bucky smiled. It was just a lift on the corners of his mouth, but he smiled nonetheless and Steve counted that as a win. And then: "You think I'm pretty, Stevie?" Steve laughed and that seemed to break the tension.

“From all that I said, that’s the part you stumbled upon?”

…

Bucky poked at his hash browns, trying to finish his meal, but with not much of a success. Instead his eyes moved to Steve's right hand and the red skin of his knuckles. "I think you should put ice on that. It's gonna bruise." "I know. And I will." "Let me get it for ya'. And the check. I think I'm done eating." "Same. But you don't have to. I'll-" But Bucky was off like a shot before Steve finished his sentence. A little off balance but nothing that made Steve worry too much. Natasha, the waitress that served them had ice ready by the time Bucky reached the counter. She smiled politely and handed the ice as Bucky asked for the check. The least he could do was to pay - after what he put Steve through. He thanked Natasha and went back to Steve.

“Put this on your hand.”

“Once a worrier. Always a worrier.”

“I can't help it, Steve. It’s ingrained in me.”

“What do we do now?”

“Take me home? Please? I'm not in the mood for anything else than curling on my couch and watching TV.”

“I can do that.” Steve smiled and as a true gentlemen helped Bucky that was trembling slightly.

“You don't have to.”

“I want to. Where else could I be?”

“Dunno… somewhere.”

“Not leaving you alone, pal.”

Bucky smiled weakly.

“Okay.” …

Bucky placed the keys on the table next to the door and kicked off his shoes before plopping on the couch. Sam managed to find it on a garage sale and the thing was the most comfortable piece of furniture Bucky sat his ass on. It helped that it came in his favorite color - blue - and that there were two blankets and couple of pillows that came with it. "C'mere Steve,” Bucky patted the couch. “What do you want to watch?" "Whatever you want Buck." "Okay then." Bucky flipped through channels to see if there was something interesting and he stumbled upon a rerun of ‘Without a trace’. "Haven't seen this show in ages." "Me either." They settled against each other in comfortable silence and as the episode progressed and the FBI found that the girl lied that Dr. Sardo was her biological mother it was race against time to find them both. Bucky inched closer to Steve and placed his head on Steve's shoulder. Steve in turn moved his arm to envelope Bucky in a half-hug. As the episode ended and the credits rolled, Bucky sighed. "Steve, I want to tell you something." Bucky's voice was barely above a whisper and if Steve wasn't so close he would've missed it. "Yeah? What is it?" "I... about Brock. I know I should've told you before that my ex-boyfriend is... a piece of shit." "It's okay, Buck. You don't have to say anything if you-" "I have to. Because I came to realize that the real reason I was holding back was you." Bucky moved his head off of Steve's shoulder to look at Steve. Steve looked surprised, and his face was one big question mark. "I'll get to that... and I'll understand if you won't want to have ties with me after this." "What's wrong Bucky?" "When I," Bucky took a deep breath "when I first met Brock, he was great. Charming, lovely. Someone I could see myself being in a relationship with. He was attentive. Took me to dinner a few games. There were even dates that he whipped out of the blue. I worked at a hardware store before the Stark gig and he'd come there at night. Walk me home. I fell for him. Hard." It was difficult for Bucky to get it out. The way his life seemed to be on the upside one moment and the next it was a giant snowball rolling down a mountain hitting a tree. "It lasted for a while. Before he started acting strange. He worked as a security. Freelance. Started picking odd jobs, coming home bloody and bruised. I had to patch him up." Steve smiled sadly. "Sounds familiar." "Yeah, but that's where the similarities end. You always picked fights to help people that actually needed it. Brock picked fights for those with deeper pockets." "You said..."

“He worked as a security at first, yeah. But while he lied to me it was low security job I learned from someone close to Brock that he was actually roughing up guys that couldn't pay the racket a mob boss wanted from them." "Jesus." "I confronted him. He said it was a lie. I yelled. It ended bad. I left. After a week, he came banging on Sam's door at 2 am. Smelled of cheap booze." "God, Bucky." "He pleaded with me. He promised he won't do it again. I believed him." "Shit." "Yeah... And the second time. And the third. Don't know why... I used to tell myself that it's because people change so maybe he'd go back to that gentleman I fell in love with?" Steve sucked in a sharp breath. To hear Bucky loving someone else than him stung more than every scrape and bruise he got. "I'm not anymore. I think that seeing him today at the restaurant proved that to me. That I fell in love with him right when he started lying to me, and gave empty promises. I gave him so many opportunities Steve..." "What happened Buck?" "He cheated on me. With one of his buddies. I caught them in our bed."

“What?!” Steve was furious. He was ready to go find Brock and give him more than just a punch. "That motherfucker! Why didn't you tell me Buck? You know I... Hell, I wanna beat him so bad. How could he do that to you." Bucky chuckled and shook his head. "It's not worth it." "You are worth it. Everything." "Well he fucked me up. Made me feel like I am not enough for him. Because he found someone else easily..." "God, Bucky." "But, I'm okay now. And maybe, I like to think that what happened between me and Brock and meeting you at that bar - that it was fate." "What are you talking about, Buck?" "Promise me you'll hear me out before... Before you make a decision." "But I don't-" "Promise me?" Steve looked at Bucky. His eyes held so many emotions, and Steve couldn't read most of it. But something in his voice sounded important. Pleading. "I promise." "You remember when I came out?" "Yes." "Remember when I told you that this boy I knew made me realize that I am not straight. Girls didn't do a thing for me Stevie. But this boy - all the fire in his eyes and soul, the spirit. He was small, but with a big heart. The most beautiful golden hair and blue eyes. My best friend." Bucky closed his eyes tight. He wasn't gonna cry. He was not! "What...? Bucky?" "It was you Steve. The boy that made me realize I was gay, it was you. I've loved you since I was 15." "10 years?" Steve opened his mouth and when nothing came out of it, he closed it. Bucky opened his eyes. He willed himself not to waver, holding Steve's eyes with his. "I know what you'll say. You are straight, and I'm your best friend, but the only person I loved my whole life is you. I tried to bury it inside. It hurt so much. To see you flirt with one girl, then another. You may have been small but girls were all over you. You were my Steve but I had to share you with them." "Oh Bucky..." Steve was on the verge of tears himself. "Let me finish, please? Today's encounter with Brock made me realize that I could love again. Another person. But never as much as you. You'll be the first and last. And even if I never have you... I'll manage. I did well until now, right?" Bucky smiled and tried not to gasp as he felt his heart tearing itself on half. "The night you took Peggy on a date I got drunk. Cried so hard I made myself sick. Your mom... she found me in the bathroom, throwing up. Asked me what's wrong. I felt so wrong. So dirty. But I had to tell someone." Steve blinked rapidly but to no avail. A tear slid down his cheek. "She... she told me it's not wrong. And that you loved me too. But I knew that she was just trying to make me feel better. I was a mess." Bucky took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I put all of this on you. Really am. But it's been a long time and the last few months just proved to me that I can't keep it inside anymore." "That's why you looked like a kicked puppy the night I left for LA. When I said I didn't have anything else to tie me to Brooklyn anymore." Bucky nodded unable to speak. "Buck? Look at me." Bucky did. "I wasn't entirely too honest with you about why I returned to Brooklyn. Part of the reason was the disagreement I had with Pierce. The other part... the stronger pull - this person that will always have that effect on me... you Buck. I came back for you." Bucky choked on a sob, unable to hold anymore. It was a rollercoaster of a day. "I've loved you since forever Buck. I thought you'd never see me as more than your best friend." "We are idiots." Bucky managed to choke of before he tried to calm his breathing and wipe tears clumsily. "Yes... I guess we are." ... Another rerun of "Without a trace" ended as Bucky snuggled deeper in Steve's embrace. After they cried their souls out, they cleaned up and returned on the couch. Bucky was not able to do much more than sit and take it all in. He did something brave today. He confessed his love to Steve. And to know Steve felt the same... it was too much. Bucky needed time to process it all. For now he was content in Steve's embrace, listening to his heartbeat. The breaths that came like short gasps evening out. He could stay like this forever. "Buck?" "Hmmm?" "Can I kiss you?" Bucky figured that with all cards open between them both it was the least they could do. "Yes, I'd like that." Steve moved his hand from Bucky's waist. Carding his fingers through Bucky's hair his hand rested on Bucky's jaw. Bucky tilted his head, smiling Steve met him halfway through. The second their lips met, Bucky felt electricity coursing through his body. God, did Steve know how to kiss. Licking at the seams of Bucky's lips, Steve probed with his tongue as Bucky opened up and let Steve lead the tempo. It all ended too soon but Steve needed to take a breath before he kissed Bucky again. Bucky melted. The second kiss was even better than the first and if this was the beginning he couldn't wait to know how the rest of Steve's kisses would feel on him. "I love you Buck." "Love you, Stevie. I think it's long overdue." "Yeah. But we have all the time in the world. I'll never get tired from saying that I love you." "Me either." Steve's stomach decided it was the perfect time for it to growl. They both laughed. …

Eating take out lead to more kisses and a makeout session on the couch. It was like neither Steve nor Bucky could get enough of the other. Bucky suggested they move to the bed. Steve raised a questioning eyebrow and Bucky whacked him with a pillow then told him he planned on full on cuddling with his boyfriend. Similar to that night at Steve's when Steve borrowed Bucky some of his clothes, Bucky gave Steve sweatpants and a t shirt that he deemed good enough to pass for sleep wear. Steve looked at the t shirt that had a picture of koala on it. He smiled softly. "What?" Bucky enquired. "Nothing... just remembered that obsession you had with stuffed bears as a kid. Well bears in general." "I still do..." Bucky blushed as he changed himself in a t shirt that had a polar bear on it. "Where are they?" "I... didn't take much when I moved out with Brock. Now that I think of it, I don't know what he's done with my stuff." "We can go get them together. In my opinion, if there's still some part of the person he was before all this? He hasn't touched anything." "Thank you, Steve." "Always." ... In the morning Bucky woke up with Steve draped all over him. One look at the man he gave his heart to, long before today, and Bucky felt warm and fuzzy, full of life and love, a new hope on the horizon.

Bucky got all that he wanted and needed right there with him. And it was enough.

...

[homosociallyyours]

Rules: answer 30 questions and tag 30 blogs you would like to get to know better

Tagged by: @holmezyan -- thanks, you freeman-loving wonder! sorry it took me so long to get to this!!

Nickname(s): Bean, Meggles, Dottie, Beene, Milton

Gender: Genderqueer femme

Zodiac: Taurus sun & moon, Gemini rising

Height: 5′5″ (roughly)

Coffee, tea or hot chocolate: Lately I’ve been drinking Yorkshire Gold or Irish Breakfast instead of coffee (trying to have a little less caffeine), but I know I’ll return to coffee again sometime. I started drinking it when I was maybe 6 or so. Nice one, parents. 

Fav band(s): The Indigo Girls, One Direction, Bikini Kill, Magnetic Fields, Le Tigre, The Butchies, Team Dresch (why are all but 2 of my bands not together and making music? what have i done to deserve this fate?)

Fav solo artist(s): Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Kaia Wilson, Joan Armatrading, Dar Williams, Dolly Parton, Mirah, Jens Lekman, Sia, Gillian Welch

Song stuck in my head: Bebe’s new song, Ferrari. 

Last movie I saw: I watched Despicable Me 3 the other night on netflix. It was...everything I expected. The last movie I saw in the theater was Love, Simon

Last show I saw:  Theater? I think it was Hamilton last year! TV? I’m currently watching the finale of Glam Masters. It’s...ok.

When did I create my blog: 2012? YIKES

What do I post: A mishmash of everything I find interesting. Currently: 1D, Johnlock, queer shit, femme shit, Martin Freeman, US politics, Janelle Monae, other women making music that makes me feel gayer, meme/meme culture posts, and definitely too many “ask me questions about myself” posts bc i spent too many years on livejournal. 

Last thing I googled: Last night I was sitting with bander and wanted her to hear a song from my friends’ band, so I think the last thing I googled was “gaymous ross dress for less” which only kinda got me the result I wanted. Which was this amazing song. (Please listen, you won’t regret it!!)

Do I have any other blogs: Several! On here I have a cheese tumblr @heycheeselady (it’s mostly dead, i haven’t reblogged to it in ages) and a benedict cumberbatch meme tumblr that i used to co-run @darlingdomesticbatch that is now long abandoned (rip, it was actually really cute and fun while it lasted). I have a dreamwidth that used to be my livejournal where i really let my depression, anxiety, and emotional self-harm cut loose to like 2 or 3 other ppl (it’s a yikes-ass nightmare). ALSO i still have a diaryland diary (!!!) that is my private corner of the internet where i post inelegant poetic prose about my actual private emotions in ways that would feel dangerous to do in front of anyone but strangers. if i ever give you the info, you aren’t allowed to talk to me about it. i probably won’t give you the info. but i’ve had it since...2000? 2001? I definitely wrote about losing my virginity over there. embarrassing!! 

Do I get asks: Sometimes when I ask for them nicely. I rarely get anons, but after my 1 day brush with fame (which i think of as 1950gate) I realized that’s a good thing bc it’s fucking exhausting to have multiple ppl asking you the same question that you already answered/never wanted to answer anyway. also ppl can be mean! 

Why did I choose my url: I knew I was going to be blogging about sherlock and queer stuff, and I thought about what really connected those things. For me, it’s the homosocial-- social spaces and interactions that are focused on same gender relationships --that fuels the homosexual/makes me gayer. The description for my blog is “i am a homosocialsexual” because that’s really what i am. The yours part...I just liked the idea of signing off on everything. I remain homosocially yours,   

Following: 720 (and that’s after i unfollowed all the dead blogs. what can i say, I like having a voluminous and varied dash)

Followed by: 920 (this number is...shockingly high, ngl)

Favorite color(s): Bright dark pink and emerald green. Deep royal purple. Cornflower blue. The color of sun through leaves in the woods. 

Average hours of sleep: 6-12, there’s rarely an inbetween. 

Lucky number: 13

Instruments: I play ukulele and I’m a good enough singer to consider my voice an instrument in its own way.

What I’m wearing: Buffalo check thermal pj leggings and my fave grey pizza t-shirt

Dream job: Basically my current job? Though I should amend that because my reality needs to shift...I’m probably never going to be able to do my job full time again. So. Dream Job would be teaching cheese tasting classes to groups of 10-20 people at a time, giving info about the cheeses and how to taste them, how to prep them for a cheese plate, what to pair them with (and how). Ideally I would do all of this with a team of 2-4 other people, making decisions cooperatively and collectively. 

Dream trip: One month trip thru France visiting various cheesemakers and ending with a week in the south with my friend who has family down there. 

Fav food: Cheese. Ha :) 

Nationality: I’m Southern (from the US). My regional identity feels very important to me.

Fav song: Ummm I definitely can’t pick. Nope. 

Last book I read: Y’all I haven’t read a paper book in a hot minute. I just haven’t been able to do it. I even have books to read. My brain says NO NO NO. But the last book length fic I read was Own the Scars, and damn was it good!

Last fanfic I read: We’ll Be Seamless, which was a really great slowburn that ended so sweetly (with lots of hot moments along the way)

Random fact: I met my best friend in preschool when we were 3 years old. I’m even in her baby book. We had a few years of not being quite as close, but now at 37 we’re somehow still BFFs. We’re also both queer and big geeks, which is a nice thing. 

I’m tagging some random folks! Probably not 30 though, so if you see this and wanna do it, PLEASE DO IT & tag me in! (and really, I mean it, I don’t care if we’re mutuals or not!)

@yellinradios @swimmingbirdrunningrock @aprillikesthings @ann-fortunately

@miafi @always-aqua @valeria2067 @a-brighter-yellow @jaerie @yorkiepug

@yearofsolouis @suddenclarityharry @cumberbitchsandwich

[foreverrosaliesbitch]

Prompt list

please take note NONE OF THESE ARE MINE i’ve only taken a few from random blogs around tumblr so i dont own any of these prompts im juts browwowing them and using them if anyone had a problem with that please message me privatly. 

secondly when requestting using the prompts plase include 

1. pairing eg. Jasperxoc EmmettxRosaliexchildoc 

2. the prompt number eg. C.127 and b.12 (note plese refrain from using any more than 3 prompts per request but feel free to request different ideas as many time as you like)

note there are 3 seprate prompt list A, B and c so when reqeusting add what letter A.6 C.89

_______________________________________________________________________

PROMPT LIST A

1.     “Well, what can I say? I’m a badass.” 

2.     “Define normal.” 

3.     “Do I get bonus points if I act like I care?” 

4.     “Just remember if we get caught, you’re deaf and I don’t speak English.” 

5.     “Don’t look for any redeeming qualities. I don’t have any.” 

6.     “It’s amazing how fast the world can go from bad to total shit storm.” 

7.     “I love you. You enormously stubborn pain in the ass.” 

8.     “Remind me to kill you. Please.” 

9.     “I’m listening to you. I’m just not paying attention.” 

10.   “That’s a little melodramatic, don’t you think?” 

11.   “Were you dropped on your head?” 

12.   “She’s crazy. And just when you think you’ve reached the bottom of her craziness, there’s a crazy underground garage.” 

13.   “She may seem like lollipops and rainbows but I bet behind close doors she’s latex and whips.” 

14.   “Sorry. I don’t speak skank.” 

15.   “If I survive, can I go home?” 

16.   “My middle finger salutes you.” 

17.   “This is a whole new level of moronic, even for you.” 

18.   “I don’t have enough middle fingers to let you know how I feel.” 

19.   “Insanity run in my family. It practically gallops.” 

20.   “Somebody’s cranky.” “Somebody needs to shut up.” 

21.   “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” 

22.   “All due respect, but that’s a bunch of crap.” 

23.   “I am one of the few people in the world who can murder you and leave no forensic evidence behind.” 

24.   “What did I tell you about calling her/him the devil?” “That it’s offensive to the devil?” 

25.   “I heard that!” “You were supposed to!” 

26.   “I need therapy after this.” 

27.   “You didn’t get in trouble for lying. You got in trouble for lying badly.” 

28.   “I turned out liking you a lot more that I originally planned.” 

29.   “I think you’re weird.” “I think you’re boring.” 

30.   “You seem somewhat familiar. Have I threatened you before?” 

31.   “I’m afraid I’ve been thinking…” “A dangerous pastime.” 

32.   “I’d explain it to you, but you’re brain would explode.” 

33.   “Wow, there’s a big surprise. I think I’m going to have a heart attack and die from surprise.” 

34.   “I’m gonna hit you so hard, it’ll make you ancestors dizzy.” 

35.   “Even when we were kids, I always kicked your ass!” 

36.   “Sarcasm is the body’s natural reaction to stupidity.” 

37.   “You’re good. A monster pain in the ass… but you’re good.” 

38.   “Well, excuse me, psychic wonder!” 

39.   “Do I regret it? Yes. Would I do it again? Probably.” 

40.   “I already know that I’m going to hell. At this point it’s really go big or go home.” 

41.   “What’s the point in screaming? No one’s listening anyway.” 

42.   “I’m not a damsel in distress. I’m a damsel doing damage.” 

43.   “So stick that in your juice box and suck it.” 

44.   “Never take life seriously. No one ever comes out alive anyway.” 

45.   “This place hold a lot of memories for me. Some bad, some… No. No, no, all bad.”

46.   “You’re insane, but you might also be brilliant.” 

47.   “What you call insanity, I call inspiration.” 

48.   “Sometimes I question my sanity. Occasionally it replies.” 

49.   “Why should we date?” “Because we are attracted to each other.” “I am attracted to pie, but I do not feel the need to date pie.” 

50.   “Why does everyone assume the worst of me.” “It saves time.” 

51.   “I like you. You’re different.” 

52.   “Neither one us is drunk enough for this conversation.” 

53.   “You’re questioning my methods.” “I’m not questioning it, I’m saying it’s stupid.” 

54.   “I didn’t do it!” “Then why are you laughing?” “Because whoever did it is a freaking genius.” 

55.   “You couldn’t handle me even if I came with instructions.” 

56.   “I care so little, I almost passed out.” 

57.   “Well behaved woman rarely make history.” 

58.   “You’re so weird.” “You have no idea.” 

59.   “The universe may not always play fair, but at least it’s got a hell of a sense of humor.” 

60.   “You haven’t even seen my bad side yet.” 

61.   “Obviously you have mistaken me for somebody who gives a shit.” 

62.   “Rule number one: don’t bother sucking up. I already hate you, that’s not going to change.” 

63.   “Damn, you’re strong for a little thing.” 

64.   “It’s called thinking. Go with it.” 

65.   “Where have you been all my life?” “Hiding from you.” 

66.   “The girl is strange no question.” 

67.   “Do us a favor… I know it’s difficult for you… but please, stay here, and try no to do anything… stupid.” 

68.   “I know most people don’t like me; I don’t care, I don’t like most people.” 

69.   “You are a very strange person.” “Well, thanks for noticing.” 

70.   “I can tell that you think what you’re saying is funny, but… no.”

71.   “I didn’t steal it. I permanently borrowed it.” 

72.   “If you pull out my earphones, I will pull out your lungs.”

73.   “I don’t dislike you, I nothing you.” 

74.   “Ah, he’s playing hard-to-get. That’s cute.” 

75.   “I feel like a freakin’ soccer mom.” 

76.   “My advice is much more subtle. Stop being an ass.” 

77.   “I’m just gonna pack up and go straight to hell now.” 

78.   “My ex? Yeah, I’d still hit that. Except this time it would be with a car or baseball bat.” 

79.   “She’s complicated like the DaVinci code, you know but harder to crack.” 

80.   “And just like everything else we do around here, it’s about to get weirder.” 

81.   “And hello to you too… little homewrecker.” 

82.   “I don’t need anger management. I need people to stop pissing me off.” 

83.   “This is fun.” “Seriously, we’re trying to hide a body.” 

84.   “That’s starting to get annoying”

85. “Hey,     hey, calm down. They can’t hurt you anymore.”

PROMPT LIST B

“You     can’t just sit there all day.”

“I’m     too sober for this.”

“You’re seriously like a man-child.”

“You     can’t banish me! This is my bed too!”

“The     ladies love a guy who’s good with kids.”

“She’s     hiding behind the sofa.”

“I lost     our baby.”

“They’re     so cute when they’re asleep.”

“Good     thing I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

“What’s     the matter, sweetie?”

“You’re     Satan.”

“I     don’t want to hear your excuse. You can’t just give me wet-willies.”

“I’m     bulletproof…but please, don’t shoot me.”

“Did     you just hiss at me?”

“I swear, I’m not crazy!!!”

“The     diamond in your engagement ring is fake.”

“How is my wife more badass than me?”

“Be     you. No one else can.”

“I     haven’t slept in ages.”

“I     locked the keys in the car.”

“Are     you sure that’s the decision you want to make?”

“Why can’t you appreciate my sense of     humor?”

“The     kids, they ambushed me.”

“Sorry     isn’t going to help when I kick your ass!!!”

“Stop     being so cute.”

“I feel     like I can’t breathe.”

“You     need to see a doctor.”

PROMPT LIST C

“I was   a joke, baby. I swear.”

“Dogs  don’t wear clothes!”

“I  didn’t think you could get any less romantic…”

“Safety  first. What are you? FIVE?”

“This   is girl talk, so leave.”

“Where  am I going? Crazy. Wanna come?”

“There’s  a herd of them!”

“Do you  think I’m scared of a woman?”

“I’m late.”

“Just     get home as soon as possible, okay?!”

“You     smell like a wet dog.”

“I     could punch you right now.”

“Are     you going to talk to me?”

“Welcome     back. Now fucking help me.”

“If you     can’t sleep…we could have sex?”

“I don’t want you to stop.”

“How     could I ever forget about you?”

“You’re     bleeding all over my carpet.”

“Run     for it!”

“We     need to talk.”

“Not     everyone is out to get you. Stop thinking that. It’s annoying.”

“I want     a pet.”

“Just     smile, I really need to see you smile right now.”

“I’m     not wearing a dress.”

“I’m     not wearing a tie.”

“Quit     beating me up!”

“Please     put your penis away.”

“It’s a     Texas thing.”

“Don’t     argue. Just do it.”

“I hope     I’m never stuck with you on a deserted island.”

“Does     he know about the baby?”

“Hold     still.”

“Enough with the sass!”

“Show     me what’s behind your back.”

“Oh honey, I’d never be jealous of you.”

“I’m     telling you. I’m haunted.”

“I had     a bad dream again.”

“I love you, please don’t go.”

“Stay     here tonight.”

“Please     don’t walk out of that door.”

“I     thought things were going great.”

“Don’t     you love me?”

“You     make every day worth living.”

“I’ll     keep you warm.”

“I’m     never letting you go.”

“You     meant too much to me.”

“I     won’t let you.”

“How     could you ask me that?”

“Don’t     you trust me?”

“I     won’t let anyone hurt you, you’re safe with me.”

“You     look amazing tonight.”

“Shouldn’t     you be with him/her?”

“I’ve     got you.”

“I     can’t sleep, can I stay here?”

“It’s     late.  Shouldn’t you be asleep?”

“How     are you feeling today?”

“You     look amazing tonight.”

“We’ll     figure this out.”

“This     isn’t goodbye.”

“What’s     cookin’ good lookin’?”

“Wanna     go grab a drink?”

“What     the hell were you thinking?!”

“Here,     let me help you.”

“Kiss     me.”

“I care     about you.”

“You     could have warned me!”

“That     was unexpected.”

“You     haven’t lost me.”

“Why     are you doing this?”

“Don’t     cry.”

“Please     don’t do this.”

“You     make me feel safe.”

“You’ve     shown me what love can feel like.”

“Thank     you, for everything.”

“All I     wanted was for you to be happy.”

“I     can’t do this on my own.”

“I     wasn’t lying when I said that I loved you.”

“Don’t     be afraid.”

“You’re     always on my mind.”

“You     have no idea how much I want you right now.”

“You’ve     always felt like home.”

“I     can’t imagine this world without you.”

“You     make me feel alive.”

“I     wouldn’t change a thing about you.”

“Who     cares about what they think?”

“Let’s     go.”

“I’m     not going anywhere.”

“Tell     me what’s wrong.”

“You’ve     always got me.”

“I’ve     waited for this moment for a long time.”

“Is     this okay?”

“You     look like you could use a hug.”

“Did     you need something?”

“Do you     have a ride home?”

“I am     home.”

“What     happened back there?”

“That’s     not gonna happen.”

“Why     me?”

“I’m     right where I belong.”

“Fine.”

“What     do you want me to say?”

“After     everything we’ve been through, you still don’t think that I love you?”

“You’ve     been drinking tonight, haven’t you?”

“You     need sleep.”

“Excuse     me?”

“What     are you doing?”

“What     did you expect?”

“You’re     not alone.”

“We’re     meant for each other.”

“You’re     worth it.”

“I     don’t care what anyone else thinks.”

“I’ve     always been honest with you.”

“It’s     cold, you should take my jacket.”

“Just     breathe, okay?”

“When     I’m with you, I’m happy.”

“Going     somewhere?”

“Don’t     lie to me.”

“Don’t     be scared, I’m right here.”

“You’re     so adorable.”

“I’m     better, now that you’re here.”

“I     could never forget you.”

“Forget     it.”

“That’s     in the past.”

“You     make me happy.”

“You’re     more than that.”

“I     won’t lose you too.”

“Come     cuddle.”

“Can’t     you stay a little longer?”

“It’s     not that easy.”

“I’ve     had enough.”

“I fell     in love with you, not them.”

“You’re     the only one I wanna wake up next to.”

“It     wasn’t your fault.”

“You     love me as if I deserve you.”

“This     isn’t what it looks like.”

“I     didn’t know you could dance like that!”

“I     found it in the recycling bin.”

“I know     what I want, when I want it. So get over here.”

“This     is… exactly what it looks like.”

“There’s     so much blood.”

“You     should see me in my old uniform. I’m pretty sure it still fits.”

“I know     you really want to hang it on the wall, but…”

“We bet and you lost, so you have to do     it.”

“Is     that a tattoo?”

“I     could tell it was your favorite book because of all the notes you wrote in     the margins.” 

“What     do you think?  Is purple my color?”

“That     is way too expensive.” 

“Girls     night in?”

“I     never imagined myself in a wedding dress.”

“I was     scared and I ran.”

“I’m     yours, in every way you’ll have me.”

“You might not like me, but you     definitely want me.”

“I want     to hike up your skirt and take you right here.”

“I love you. I just love her more.”

“A     package arrived for you, but there’s no return address and the box looks     really old.”

“If I     die, I’m going to haunt you.”

“I     didn’t say “sex party” as in orgy.  I said “hex party” as in     witches.”

“You     wanted me to walk in on you.”

“This     is a totally inappropriate soundtrack.”

“Let’s     get wasted and then go piss on his grave.”

“I     scalped my Hamilton tickets to pay for it.”

“Hold     my hand until it’s over?”

“If you     want to get me naked, you’ll have to convince me it’ll be worth my time.”

“I’m a     level 72 Rogue and if you tell anyone, I’ll deny it and I will kill you.”