#elixirscafe

[marvelstoriesepic]

Latte (He)art

Pairing: Barista!Bucky x Coworker!College!Reader

Summary: Your sweet coworker at the café you work at part time is the only thing able to brighten your day. So it’s only practical that he always ends up in the same shift as you.

Word Count: 7.8k 🐻☕🧋🍪

Warnings: Reader having College stress; mentions of a single mother (not reader); some coffee is spilled; Bucky is a sweetheart; Bucky is worried

Author’s Note: This little piece is written for @elixirfromthestars writing challenge. I actually planned to write this a month earlier but life got in between lol. Here it is now. I dearly hope you enjoy what I made of your lovely prompt.

🤎Coffee Cup🤎 “So we’re swapping our cups, and after a while, we’re swapping a glance. And I can think nothing better than starting the year with a drop of romance.” -Anthony Lazaro

Masterlist

The windows of the coffee shop receive more of your attention than the assortment of pastries you’re supposed to prepare to showcase behind the counter.

It’s fifteen minutes before Bucky’s shift starts and your belly flutters at the thought of seeing him again.

The early morning sun filters through the windows, offering a soft glow that casts warm beams of light to sweep across the floor and catch the glistening frosting on the cinnamon rolls. Their sweet, spiced aroma laced with hints of vanilla and brown sugar wafts through the air.

However, your gaze is more drawn to the street outside, scanning the road for a short mop of chestnut hair.

You like to snag shifts before the classes of your day start, relishing in the early morning hours and being satisfied with getting some work done before studying. But in the two and a half months since you started working at ‘Barnes Brown Beans’, you had come to recognize Bucky seems to prefer working in the morning as well. So, he actually may be the main reason.

Also, you’re usually, coincidentally - or so you tell yourself - paired with him anyway.

You’re grateful for this job. The shop’s close proximity to your university makes it an easy commute and the wages are fair. That’s a blessing in itself. But more than that, it was George and Winifred Barnes, the owners, who initially made it easy for you to love this job.

Winifred had greeted you with sweet enthusiasm at your job interview for a part-time job, making you instantly feel more at ease. After asking a few routine questions and warmly assuring you that the position was yours, she shifted the conversation to your studies with genuine interest and asked if you were good with balancing work and university life - a mother's worries.

It didn’t take long for her to start gushing about her children. She explained to you how her son, Bucky, had been helping out at the coffee shop ever since high school. Instead of pursuing college, like many of his peers and his best friend Steve, he chose to stay in New York to help manage the family business. “I’m sure you two will get along well” she had said with a kind of knowing grin you couldn’t make sense of.

She even shared with you that his little sister, Rebecca, always had a burning passion for studying architecture abroad. Unfortunately, the Barnes simply couldn’t afford a college education for both children, so Bucky decided to step up, taking on more responsibility at the shop so his parents wouldn’t be overwhelmed and relieving them of some stressful work, allowing his sister to follow her dreams.

She spoke with so much love and gratitude she held for her son, it almost made you tear up. She mentioned that Bucky never once showed resentment or regret for the path he chose.

Instead, he took pride in his role, and you could see it too. During your brief time working with him, you noticed how he carried himself with a quiet determination. There is genuine joy in the way he treats customers, always kind and attentive, and he always puts so much care into every small detail of his work.

He also loves to tell you about the exams his sister passed, and the friends she made; pride in her success evident when he speaks about her.

You admire him. He’s selfless, hardworking, and full of heart.

So it’s just logical that his parents gave him so much responsibility early on and made him part of the management.

You don’t mind that one second though, because he takes his authority incredibly seriously and usually shows up for his shifts earlier than he needs to.

It’s why your gaze is drawn to the panes of glass at the front once again.

You got in at 7 today, getting enthusiastically greeted by George - as he told you to call him on your first day - and tasked with the usual morning routine. So, as he disappeared into the small office room at the back of the shop, you had started prepping the food equipment and putting it on display.

The shop wouldn’t open until 8, so you still had some time to breathe before the morning rush would start, but you always feel some kind of gratitude at the way George lets you handle yourself at the front while waiting for Bucky to arrive at 7:30 to help out.

Admittedly, you didn’t get that much done yet, caused by the thought of seeing Bucky walk in through the door at any minute.

You saw him just 4 days ago at your last shift, but the giddy anticipation is all the same and you only have three and a half hours with him today before you have to leave for your classes.

The buttery, sweet, and slightly nutty smell of the freshly baked croissants you’re currently rearranging wafts from the trays and reaches your nostrils, but gets ignored the second you hear keys jiggling outside, and your attention snaps to the door.

“Morning doll!”

Bucky’s smooth voice comes through the door with him, cheerful as always as he greets you with a charming smile, and your chest flutters. A rush of cool air hits your exposed skin from outside, but his grin is warming you back up quickly.

You fumble with the croissant in your hand, but recover in time and throw him a smile of your own, hoping you’re able to mask the excitement you tried to hold in all morning.

“Morning, Bucky,” you greet him back sweetly, turning your attention back to the pastries, pretending to focus on your task at hand.

Out of the corner of your eye, you watch as Bucky pulls off his coat and then makes his way over to you, hovering over your shoulder, while putting on his apron. You try to hide the way your hands get a little clammy in the see-through gloves you’re wearing while touching the food.

You tend to the fruit danishes, their glossy, golden crust filled with rich cream cheese and topped with plump raspberries, blueberries, and apricots.

Carefully placing each in its designated spot, you only manage to breathe a little easier when you feel Bucky move over to the coffee machines, their steady hum filling the quiet space as Bucky busies himself.

“Smells amazing, doll,” he calls over his shoulder and you can hear the grin in his voice.

You let out a soft laugh, glancing at him briefly before putting your head back around. “Didn’t make them, Bucky,” you explain, tone playful but modest.

Brewing coffee and clinking mugs are the only sounds you hear before Bucky’s hum reaches your ears. “Maybe you should,” he states, teasing laced with a hint of sincerity. “Bet they’d be gone in seconds.”

You’re grateful that Bucky isn’t in your line of sight because you feel heat creeping up your neck, coloring your cheeks. Your laugh is a little breathless, a little more insecure than you intended.

A few weeks ago you had casually mentioned your love for baking when Bucky had asked about your hobbies, and ever since he loved to bring it up every once in a while.

“I don’t know about that.” You try for nonchalance, but the blush doesn’t leave your face.

“Gotta give yourself more credit, doll,” he replies easily, his words wrapped in that effortless charm of his. You hear some more clinking of cups as he makes one for himself, just like every day. “Want coffee?”

He asks every time. You decline, like every time. Though he never fails to ask.

And it never fails to make your morning feel just a little bit brighter.

****

Watching Bucky create his latte art has become one of the highlights of your day. There is something mesmerizing in the way he moves, pouring the steamed milk with such precision and focus as if each cup would get graded by an artist.

You’ve noticed how much care he puts into it, the way he pauses before finishing, always needing it to be perfect.

You can tell when Bucky isn’t quite satisfied, like right now, as he holds up the cup that looks flawless to you. But there is a twitch of his mouth, a slight hesitation in his hand as if he’s debating whether to start over or risk making it worse with one more pour.

It’s adorable, really. To you, they all look perfect, but he holds himself to a standard that’s somehow both admirable and endearing.

Today, Bucky was the one already there when you arrived at 8 am, along with the first customers of the day.

The scent of fresh coffee had filled the air as you stepped inside, a soft murmur of conversation around you setting the tone for the morning rush.

He was stationed behind the counter, together with one of your coworkers, Peter. It didn’t escape your notice that Bucky caught your eye immediately, flashing you that warm, easy smile even before acknowledging Mr. Nakajima, a frequent visitor.

It was a small gesture but it excited you nonetheless.

Mr. Nakajima, or Yori as you’d heard Bucky call him, now sits in his usual corner, peacefully sipping his tea; his quiet presence a constant in the shop.

The older man always seems content to watch the people go in and out of the shop, observing the ebb and flow of the crowd, wrinkled hands wrapped around his cup as if savoring the warmth.

Bucky often took time to sit with him when things were slow, sharing long and comfortable conversations that seemed to be meaningful. There is something about the way Bucky treats Yori that tugs at your heart.

It seems, that right now Bucky is comfortable with leaving Peter and you to attend to the ebbing crowd as he makes his way to Yori's table and slowly lowers himself in front of him.

You deliberately turn away although there isn’t much to do for you right now since the morning rush is over and Peter attends to the only customer in the shop right now. So, you mindlessly wipe down the counter, not because you’re not interested, but if you spend any more attention on the guy you might get overwhelmed by the awe he arises in you.

The way Bucky smiles when he talks to the old man, the way his face lights up with that blinding, heart-stopping grin - it has a dizzying effect on you. And the laugh he lets slip every so often, low and full of warmth, makes it hard to concentrate on any coffee orders.

Bucky stays at Yori's table for a while. Every now and then you make out his face turning in your direction, lingering a little but you stay focused on your work.

“Y/n?”

The sound of Peters's voice makes your head snap over to him, blinking in expectation.

“Sorry, uh, you seemed a little distracted for a sec,” Peter says with a shy laugh, scratching the back of his neck, eyes flickering not so subtly over to Bucky.

Alright, maybe you have looked a few times. Whatever.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you mumble, doing your best to ignore the knowing grin spreading across Peter's face. Thankfully, a girl around your age approaches the counter, saving you from the growing awkwardness. You flash her a smile and focus on her order.

More customers start to stream in, the café again beginning to buzz with activity. Bucky, noticing the crowd building up, excuses himself from Yori’s table with a friendly pat on the old man’s shoulder. He steps back behind the counter, his easygoing demeanor never faltering as he joins in beside you. You share a quick smile.

Working with Bucky always makes it fun in some sense, time slipping by too quickly. Before you know it, it’s time for you to head out for your first class of the day.

You step away from the counter, untie your apron, and grab your things, already feeling reluctant to leave Bucky’s side.

“Already time to go?” Bucky asks, turned in your direction, his voice carrying that familiar deep drawl. There’s a slight disappointment laced in his tone, that doesn’t escape you.

“Yeah,” you sigh, “first class is-“

“History,” he finishes for you, without missing a beat.“I remember.”

You hadn’t expected him to recall such a small detail about your schedule, surprise registering on your face. But you quickly push out a smile, nodding at him, your heart doing a little somersault.

“Hold on,” he insists quietly, already moving to snap up a to-go bag and carefully placing a croissant inside. With a casual grin, he holds it out for you to take. “On the house.”

This isn’t the first time Bucky has given you something to go, insisting you take it as a gift. But it never gets easier to accept his small acts of kindness. You hesitate, not making a move to take the bag and Bucky’s smirk only deepens, playing the same game you’ve had before.

“Take it, doll,” he drawls, dangling the bag in front of your face with a playful glint in his eye. “Can’t let you go to class hungry, now can I?”

You can’t help but roll your eyes with a smile tugging at your lips, and snatch the bag from his hand with mock annoyance. “Fine, but this is the last time,” you warn, rather weakly it seems, considering the way Bucky leans against the counter with his arms crossed, smirking at you in an amused manner.

“You know it’s not. Can’t fault me for taking care of you, doll. You haven’t eaten anything all morning.”

His words are casual, but the way he says it, the unspoken concern that lingers, makes giddy warmth rise in your stomach, spreading to your face and heating your skin.

You hope it’s not that obvious, so you just sigh again, dramatically, and exaggerate an eye roll as Bucky lets another cup get filled with coffee, eyes remaining on you, a chuckle fleeing his lips.

You make your way to the door of the shop, knowing you’d just pay him back by slipping some money into the tip jar when you’re in earlier than him.

“And no leaving dollars in the tip jar, sweetheart,” Bucky calls out behind you, the smug amusement clear in his voice. “Ma told me about that.”

Busted.

You turn you head with a faux helpless look, which only sends him into a fit of laughter, the sound rich and full, echoing through the shop, and your heart bursts, ignoring the people standing in the line wearing looks between confusion and annoyance. Laughing quietly yourself, you let the warmth of the moment fill you up, then quickly slip out the door before the flustered grin on your face can betray you any further.

With the door closed, the sounds of the café seal off behind you and you find yourself lingering just a second longer than the last time.

****

“Girl, I’m telling you, that’s nothing! I accidentally made a girl’s latte with cow's milk although she’d ordered oat. Chased her down the street like a lunatic, I mean she could have had an allergy and whatnot. Turns out it was just a preference and she didn’t mind. Talk about embarrassing.”

You chuckle along to Gina’s story, dusting the cappuccino in front of you with a sprinkle of cinnamon, scents mingling together.

Regina - or Gina as she prefers - is always someone you enjoy working with together. She’s incredibly open-minded and carries that vibrant energy you need to get through the day. She’s got a few years on you but never fails to make you laugh.

While brewing coffee and selling them, she loves to tell you about her little boy, Nikita. You’ve seen pictures of him on her phone and he’s adorable with puffy cheeks, dark curls, and dark green eyes. He must have those from his father.

You know she is a single mother and you admire the way she takes it with pride, finding peace in her situation and insisting that she and Nikita are better off without his father.

You’ve also come to find out that 'Barnes Brown Beans' wasn’t the only job she had but that George and Winifred are so much fairer than her other boss, being supportive and trying to give her shifts that accommodate her schedule so she could pick up Nikita from kindergarden early enough to still have time with him every day.

Another thing that makes this job so valuable.

Earlier was a brief lull in the crowd, allowing you and her to chat. The conversation had drifted into the realm of embarrassing work stories. You shared one of your own, recalling how, in your first week, you had prepared a to-go coffee. You felt that nervousness that comes with starting a new job and as you tried to slide the cup over the counter to the customer, your aim had been far too enthusiastic. The cup sailed past the edge, spinning gracefully through the air before landing in the trash bin.

You hoped that perhaps nobody really saw what happened besides the slightly perturbed man in front of you. But since you shared this shift with Bucky and he always seems to have an eye on you, of course, he was a witness. You remember the way his laugh had erupted, uncontainable, filling the air behind the counter. He had leaned against it for support while you stood there, cheeks burning.

He didn’t make you feel bad though, helping you remake the coffee and almost sheepishly adding that the same thing happened to him once. Only, in his case, it was a porcelain cup. And it didn’t land in the bin. The image of it crashing to the floor, shattering into tiny pieces as coffee splattered everywhere, was enough to make you feel a little less embarrassed.

“Something funny?”

The familiar voice catches you off guard and you look up from the register. Sure enough, Bucky is strolling up to the counter, hands casually tucked into his jacket pockets and that handsome grin on his face that always causes your stomach to do flips.

“Bucky?” you ask, a soft, confused laugh escaping you. You feel your heart jump in excitement and try to tone it down. He wasn’t supposed to come in for a few more hours, and you had already resigned yourself to the disappointment of missing him today. You’d seen the shift schedule last week and the realization was like a cloud casting a shadow over your mood.

So, seeing him standing in front of you only makes a smile stretch wide without even thinking.

“I think you’re a little early,” you assess, voice light as you ring up the girl standing at the counter. Handing her the cappuccino, you glance back at him, the small transaction barely registering as your attention stays fixed on Bucky.

His grin only widens as he shrugs with a kind of faux nonchalance, letting his gaze sweep across the room. His smile stays in place, even as he steps aside for a middle-aged man approaching you.

“Couldn’t stay away,” he teases with that signature edge of playfulness that always gets to you.

As you start to prepare the man’s coffee, you can feel Bucky’s gaze on you, watching your every move. It’s a weight you’ve grown fond of - his silent observation that makes you more aware of yourself, in a good way.

You flash him a quick smile before refocusing.

“Also had to know how that exam went,” he adds casually, leaning in just a little, but you’re aware of that curiosity his voice always carries when he asks you about college. Or anything about your life, really.

You huff out a small laugh, ringing up the man’s order and sliding his coffee across the counter before turning your full attention back to Bucky. “Wasn’t as hard as I thought it’d be,” you answer him, a hint of relief in your tone since you had been stressing about this exam for weeks. “I think I did okay.”

Bucky leans against the counter now, propping himself up in that relaxed way of his, eyes never leaving yours. You’re glad you get to talk to him, glad that Gina attends to the only current customer right now and you have a second with Bucky, but the unknown power his gaze holds over you threatens to overwhelm you.

“What’d I tell ya, doll? Of course, you did great. Smartest girl I know.”

You snort, but your heart races. He always seems so sure of your success, having this confidence in you, that you feel you lack sometimes and it makes warmth pool in your gut. “Well I guess I’ll have to thank you, then,” you reply, smile present and voice light but the gratitude is real.

His scent - a mix of something warm and clean, almost earthy, and his cologne - cuts through the usual aroma of coffee beans and pastries. It’s grounding and you have to remind yourself to focus as you move toward the coffee machines.

“Do you want coffee?” you throw over your shoulder, fingers already hovering over the buttons.

Bucky straightens up in your peripherals and you make out the shake of his head with that soft smile on his face. “Don’t wanna keep you from work. I’ll make it myself, thanks doll!”

The door to the café swings open and three girls walk in together, laughter filling the room as they make their way over to you. Bucky’s movements snap your head back to him as he casually slips behind the counter, stepping up to the coffee machines and you head back to the register, keeping awareness of his presence as always.

Since Bucky’s shift doesn’t start yet, he stays lingering behind the counter and engages in conversation with Gina when he notices you getting busy again. From where you stand you can hear snippets of their conversation - Bucky asking about Nikita and when he gets to see him again.

You never realized they are that close but the thought of Bucky caring about that little boy instantly heats your skin. There’s a softness to imagining him in that role, and you can easily picture how good he must be with kids.

After all, you’ve seen it before - the way his face lights up when he catches sight of children toddling along beside their parents, the way he bends down to their height, engages them in little conversations that always leave them giggling or grinning from ear to ear. It’s endearing and really no wonder that every child he talks to seems to adore him.

But what really tugs at your heart, what causes a flutter deep in your chest, is the subtle way Bucky’s attention keeps drifting back to you.

Even in the middle of his chat with Gina, you can feel his gaze lingering on you. There is a quiet fondness in the way he watches you go about your work, always wearing that soft expression.

It’s not like he’s checking if you’re doing your job right - nothing about it feels critical or scrutinizing. Instead, it’s as if he’s simply enjoying observing you, absorbing the way you move through your tasks, as though he’s eager to learn all the little details that make up your routine.

And surprisingly, it doesn’t make you as nervous as you might have believed. If anything, there is something soothing about his attention, like a silent reassurance you never knew you needed.

Occasionally, throughout your shift, Bucky strikes up conversations with familiar customers - frequent flyers whose names he already knows by heart. You catch bits and pieces of their easy small talk, but even then, his eyes always find their way back to you.

And every time you meet them, your heart swells with hope that perhaps the reason he came in early for his shift might be you.

****

Your week has been nothing short of overwhelming and frustrating - packed with assignments, papers to write, and facts to memorize. To top it off, a fellow student had yelled at you for breaking his pen, and you still remember that disappointed glint in your professor's eyes after failing to give him satisfying answers in class.

It feels like you are constantly juggling everything at once, and somehow, the balance has tipped entirely.

Sleep has become a rare luxury, replaced by caffeine-fueled study sessions that stretch into the early hours of the morning.

As you walk to the café for your afternoon shift, a heavy sigh escapes your lips, the exhaustion settling in your bones.

You rarely work afternoon shifts, but this one fits perfectly behind your friday classes and you have been too swamped the rest of the week to pick up any shifts at all.

Your pace is slower than usual, feet dragging slightly on the pavement. There is no real need to hurry today. Normally, your steps would quicken as you approached the café, that familiar, sweet sign with its three big B’s always managing to lift your mood.

But today the excitement isn’t there. Not when you know Bucky has the day off. Without him there, the urgency to get to work just isn’t the same.

But, thinking about it, it might be for the best that Bucky is not around today. You can’t imagine you look all that appealing right now, with dark bags under your eyes - the kind that no amount of concealer could hide. Your skin has that worn-out, dull shimmer to it - the kind that no amount of caffeine could mask.

You catch a glimpse of your reflection in a shop window as you pass and wince slightly. The fatigue shows in your features, and for a moment, you’re thankful that this day won’t include the possibility of Bucky catching sight of you in this state.

You’re partly relieved to have a shift where you can simply focus on getting through it without feeling self-conscious. There is no need to hide how utterly drained you feel because you really couldn’t care less how your appearance would affect your customers. You just need to make it through these few hours, go home, and hopefully, finally get some rest.

You pull open the door, gathering what little composure you can muster. The all-known blend of rich coffee, baked pastries, and warm, cozy air greets you as always, along with the chatter from the packed room. It’s busy, as expected for this time of day, but the environment surprisingly helps ground you as you weave your way through the crowd, slipping between patrons.

Your eyes catch Winifred at the back, her beaming smile a quick but comforting sight before she disappears behind the office door with a wave.

Side-stepping two men chatting near the line, you get a clearer view of the counter and freeze - feet refusing to continue.

Thanks to the work schedule you know who your coworkers are today. Peter was assigned, as well as Wanda, a nice, but slightly odd girl with a thick accent and laser-like focus on her task.

You had prepared for them both. But it isn’t Wanda standing next to Peter behind the counter.

It’s Bucky.

Your heart jumps into your throat and you’re not sure if it’s because of the surprise of seeing him or because of how unprepared you feel in this exact moment. You didn’t even check your hair in a car window before entering.

He’s here - on his supposed day off - laughing with a guy on the other side of the counter as he works the espresso machine, his movements smooth and practiced; no surprise there. His presence is so casual and effortless that you find yourself thinking your tired eyes might have looked at the wrong day on the schedule and perhaps you aren’t even supposed to work today. Though Winifred wasn’t at all surprised to see you.

Your head spins at the simple thought and yet a ripple of warmth shoots through you at the sight of him, making you momentarily forget just how drained you are.

While every fiber of your being wants to feel self-conscious about your tired eyes and the imperfections on your skin, craving to stay hidden between the line of people, the longer you watch him work, it gets overtaken by something else.

That same old lightness that seems to follow him wherever he goes and sticks to you when you’re near enough, soaking into your veins and filling them with energy. You can practically feel them fizzle.

You would have liked to linger in this moment just a little longer, but it’s cut short abruptly when he spots you. His polite smile brightens instantly, eyebrows moving up slightly as his eyes lighten up.

You flash him a smile in return, though you can feel it wobble at the edges, probably more sheepish than anything else. Maybe it even comes off as a grimace with the exhaustion weighing on you, but you quickly break eye contact and resume walking.

For a moment, you make out Bucky’s hand pausing mid-motion, hovering above the counter before he slides a to-go cup to the waiting guy on the other side.

Passing by, you can feel his gaze trailing after you, burning softly against your skin, a quiet but intense presence that follows you even when you’re not looking.

You busy yourself with dialing in for the shift, wrapping your apron around your waist, doing your best to shake off the fatigue and the flutter that Bucky’s unexpected presence elicits in you.

From behind you, you catch the sound of his voice, though it sounds a little distracted, asking the next customer to repeat their order.

You glance back, quickly greeting Peter as you pass, but your focus is drawn to the pastry case, where a small woman waits for service. You keep your hands moving, bagging up her choice of pastries - two croissants and four scones - but make out Bucky’s head turning in your direction a few times.

You steal a glance at him from the corner of your eye, noticing the slight furrow in his brow as he works. He’s a little slower now, less sure in his movements than when you first walked in. It’s subtle, but you can tell his focus is slipping. Something about his energy has shifted.

Minutes pass and the three of you stay busy with the steady stream of customers. You remain behind the pastry case, preparing the treats for the eager crowd. In between transactions, you notice Bucky taking a step in your direction, hesitating each time like he wants to step closer but keeps pulling himself back at the last second.

He returns to the register every time, tending to the next person in line, but there is an urgency in his movements now. His hands got quicker again, fingers tapping impatiently against the counter as he waits for the coffee to brew and his gaze falls back to you every so often but you avoid it.

Another few minutes tick by and you begin to settle into the rhythm of the shift when a sudden shout rings out from the front.

Your head snaps up, eyes locking onto the group of people stepping back from the counter hastily, startled by the splash of coffee that arcs through the air.

The cup that had caused the commotion clinks against the counter, slipping in Bucky’s hand and his other one shoots out to hold it steady before it can meet the ground alongside the coffee that was in it moments before.

“Shit, I’m so sorry,” Bucky exclaims, his voice thick with frustration as he shakes his head at himself, wiping the spilled brown liquor from his hands. He quickly puts away the cup and apologizes again to the man it was meant for and the crowd of people who got startled.

The customer, a guy who looks to be in his mid-twenties, holds up his hands in a placating gesture, clearly not bothered by the accident. His jacket sleeve is stained with coffee, but he brushes it off with a casual shrug. “No worries, man, really. Nothing happened, you’re good!”

Bucky doesn’t seem to relax. You can see the tension in his jaw, the way his shoulders are still tight as he remakes the drink with stiff, almost mechanical precision. You’ve never seen him so rattled but then again, he has been unfocused ever since he saw you.

Work continues steadily for the next half hour, with the rush of patrons finally starting to taper off. The café gradually empties, the throng thinning out until only a handful of people remain, some of them sitting in booths going on with their conversations.

You catch sight of Bucky leaning in closer to Peter, murmuring something you can’t quite make out. Peter nods, and without another word and a small pat on Peter’s shoulder, Bucky steps back from the counter.

This time, his hesitation is gone as he strides over to you.

He stops beside you, eyes on your profile. “Hey,” he speaks softly, voice low.

You finish helping a boy, thanking him for the tip before turning to Bucky with a small smile.

“Hey,” you reply, voice matching his softness but quieter. You turn your attention to the young girl in front of you, requesting a cookie. Reaching for a bag to tuck the treat inside, you continue the conversation, though your eyes stay focused downward.

“Didn’t expect to see you here today,” you comment, sensing his gaze on you.

“Yeah, uh, I took Wanda’s shift,” Bucky responds, his voice a little more tentative now. You notice him shuffling slightly beside you, standing up straighter.

He offers no further explanation as to why he picked up the shift, and you don’t feel the energy to ask about it. For some reason, the simple act of bagging a cookie while talking to him feels like a juggling act your tired brain isn’t quite up for.

So all you manage is a noncommittal hum in response.

The girl leaves with her cookie and Bucky stays beside you, solid and unyielding in his gaze. It presses on you like a weight as the moments pass.

Your stomach flutters uneasily when you realize there’s no line left to distract you, no excuse to stay busy.

You move automatically, reaching for the paper bags, rearranging them with a bit more force than necessary, trying to give yourself something to focus on, something other than Bucky’s eyes burning into you.

“Are you okay?” he asks finally, slowly and lowly, as if the question is something private meant only for you. It is. You feel the shift in his tone, the way he leans in slightly as if he needs a sincere answer to his sincere question.

It pulls your attention to him and you reluctantly lift your head, your heart twisting at the sight. Bucky gazes down at you with an expression far more serious than you’ve ever seen. His blue eyes, usually filled with a glimmering light when he looks at you, hold an amount of concern that seems to have an impact on his stiff muscles.

“I’m fine, Bucky,” you declare gently, smiling at him in hopes it’ll reassure him, though even before the words have left your lips completely, you felt it wasn’t entirely convincing.

Bucky studies you a moment longer. His eyes trace your features, dark brows hanging low, but you don’t take your words back.

Then, after a pause he lets out a long drawn sigh, hanging his head in defeat. He obviously doesn’t believe you, but he doesn’t push it. The concern in his eyes remains but he lets it go, stepping back from you slowly.

He walks over to the coffee machines, deliberately trying to feign casualness. He grabs a cup and turns the familiar button after checking if Peter needs some help at the register, the whirring sound of brewing coffee filling the brief silence between you.

“You want some coffee?” he asks, like clockwork - just as he does every time you work together.

Without thinking, you open your mouth to decline, as usual. It’s almost muscle memory at this point, your automatic response. But then, mid-through, you pause. Another shot of caffeine can’t hurt. You can use the energy to get home safely without passing out after this shift.

The cup fills, steam rises, and Bucky turns to you when you take too long to answer.

You hesitate for a beat, then shift your gaze away, feeling a little awkward. “Yeah, I’ll take one,” you decide, stepping beside him to grab yourself a cup, eyes not moving to him.

But before you can reach for one, Bucky’s hand wraps gently around your wrist, halting you. The touch is light, but enough to make your pulse quicken. “Hold on,” he remarks, his voice filled with concern rather than confusion. “You never want coffee when I ask.” His intense eyes search your face again.

“If you always expect me to say no, then why do you keep asking?”

Bucky doesn’t respond immediately. He just keeps looking at you, quietly pleading for honesty. “That ain’t the point,” he softy counters but his voice carries insistence. “Something’s wrong.”

You sigh. God, you’re tired. You really need that coffee and you’d certainly feel terrible for getting annoyed at Bucky. He’s just trying to figure you out. He cares. That thought alone presses against the wall you’ve been trying to maintain all day.

Gently, you pull your wrist from his loose grip, and he lets his hand fall back to his side, though his gaze doesn’t waver.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Damn, that came out hollow. “I’m just a little stressed,” you add when he starts to shake his head, “and I could use a cup. It’s just coffee, Bucky.”

You see the muscles in his jaw tighten and his hand comes up to run through his hair.

“It’s not just coffee, darling,” he sighs. There’s a pause in which he assesses you again, then he continues. “Alright. Don’t take this the wrong way, doll. You know you’re a beautiful gal, but… you look like you’re about to drop dead.”

Your eyebrows shoot up. It looks like tiredness comes with an attitude, because your mind foregoes the part where he called you beautiful, only hearing the other side.

“Well.” You draw out the word. “If you don’t want me to drop dead, then let me have some coffee.” There is a bit of edge to your tone you hadn’t exactly intended, but you’re too tired to smooth it out. You also don’t wait for him to respond, quickly reaching for another cup and pressing the button before Bucky can grab your arm again.

Bucky stays quiet for a moment, watching you with those piercing blue eyes that seem to see right through your walls. He doesn’t look angry - just worried.

As the coffee pours you hear him take a breath. “Alright,” Bucky says quietly, almost under his breath. “I’m sorry, Y/n,” he adds after a short pause. Firmness, sincerity, and perhaps an amount of regret are all wrapped in his tone.

He used your name. You haven’t heard him say your name since the first time working here. And never with that much conviction.

“I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m just… worried.” His voice softens even more, it sounds almost pleading and he takes a quick glance back at Peter, who was busy attending to the few patrons mingling about, before refocusing on you, his hand brushing over his hair. “I’ve seen you stressed before. Like when you kept going on about how worried you were for that exam. I watched you go through the stuff you had to learn in your head while remaining so incredibly focused and sweet during work. I admire that, Y/n. I must’ve told you a thousand times you’d ace it, but you wouldn’t believe me.” He chuckles lowly, sheepishly, and he licks his lips, before continuing. His gaze leaves you, mind seemingly far in his memories.

“Or your first day here. You were so nervous about making a mistake. You asked so many questions, were so interested in everything. I kept thinking about you all day. Every day, really.” He took another deep breath. It comes out a little unsteady and his eyes quickly flicker over to you, not quite meeting your own, but still searching your features.

“But this… this is different, and- I don’t know. I don’t like it. Hate it, honestly. Seeing you like this.”

His words hit you deep. The genuine concern and sincerity in his tone make your chest tighten, throat closing up and you feel yourself losing your breath as he takes a small step closer, eyes now fully on yours again. The nerves in his voice that had been there are gone now. Because he’s sure of what he says next. It’s clear in his tone.

“But, sweetheart, even through it all, you still manage to be the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Drop dead gorgeous, honestly.”

You let out a surprised huff of laughter, partly because it’s easier than acknowledging and processing the meaning of his words. Heat creeps up your cheeks and all you feel like doing is bolt out of the door at the other end of the room but your feet are rooted to the spot. Perhaps, the floor would just give away and you’d fall deep down into the unknown.

That still would be kinder than standing in front of Bucky right now after his heavy confessions, feeling too vulnerable under his soft gaze.

You’re not able to meet his eyes, dropping your head. You know he is still looking at you. You don’t have to feel it to know it. That gentle expression, the reassuring smile - like he’s silently conveying that everything’s okay.

“Let me make you feel better, yeah?” Bucky’s voice is barely above a whisper, gentle, yet filled with intent. He gives you a moment, letting his earlier confessions sink in, before taking hold of the now full cup that is meant for you. Your eyes widen slightly when you see him grab the can of freshly steamed milk, an almost eager smile tugging at his lips.

“Are you pulling your latte art on me?” you ask with a light laugh, some of the tension in your chest loosening. There is a little bit of a teasing note in your voice now, your heartbeat beginning to slow.

“Sure am, doll!” Bucky grins proudly, lifting the cup higher. His brow furrows in concentration as he carefully pours the milk with a steady hand, his tongue briefly poking out as he narrows his eyes to get the design just right. You had seen him do this many times before but never for you.

The precision and dedication he’s giving to something as simple as your coffee makes your heart swell. You’re the one watching him now with a soft smile, utterly mesmerized by how serious he’s taking it.

You take a glance at the other cup - the one Bucky had made for himself and an idea hits you. Steam still rises from the liquid inside, the scent of fresh coffee meeting your nose.

You look around the counter, spotting the milk pot Peter had just set down and, without a second thought, you pick up Bucky’s cup, ready to return the favor. You lift the milk and begin to pour.

“What are you doing, doll?” Bucky’s gaze stays fixed on the cup in his hand, but his smile is beaming, curiosity lacing his words.

“I don’t think I need to tell you that,” you retort, your voice playful as you guide the milk with careful precision, weaving your hand in the practiced motions until you’re satisfied with the design.

Bucky’s chuckle is warm and soft and for a moment, it feels like the world shrinks down to just the two of you, the quiet intimacy cutting through the noise of the ebbing café.

Bucky finishes his work and sets the milk pot back down. There is a slight hesitation in his movements as he hands over the cup for you, a touch of nervousness creeping into his stance. You smile up at him and offer the cup in your hand to him. His hands are a little clammy as they touch yours. You swap coffees.

Your mouth falls open as you take a glance down into the cup. In the creamy white foam, a delicate rose is perfectly etched, its petals spiraling gracefully outward. Surrounding the rose are tiny, intricate hearts, floating around the bloom. The detail is so mesmerizing that all you can do is stare at it.

“This is incredible, Bucky,” you breathe out, voice filled with amazement. When you look up, he’s already watching you. He’s breathing deeply and his smile is in place. But there is also something in his eyes he doesn’t try to hold back - pure adoration, shining clearly like he just can’t hide it anymore.

He holds his own cup carefully, as if it’s something precious, something fragile, as if even the tiniest movement would mess up the heart in white swirling in his cup. Though, you feel like the simple heart pales in comparison to the masterpiece he’s created for you.

“It’s beautiful,” you say quietly, a hint of shyness in your tone. You feel a tiny amount of embarrassment but Bucky just keeps smiling, so warm and incredibly fond, that any hint of insecurity melts away.

“Learned it for you,” he admits it softly, his words slipping out like a secret he’s been holding onto for too long. Your heart skips a beat, eyes widening slightly before you look back down at the cup, tracing the design over and over again with your gaze.

“I love it, Bucky. I love these little hearts,” you address admiringly, almost dreamily.

Bucky is beaming above you, and although he shakes his head softly, his smile never leaves his face. He takes in a deep breath, seemingly needing to compose himself and looks down at his own cup, at the heart in it.

“Well,” he vocalizes, affection surrounded by a playful edge, “my heart’s bigger.”

You laugh, rolling your eyes playfully. “Don’t flatter yourself, Barnes. It’s the only thing I know how to do.”

He chuckles, that vibrating sound, that always makes your chest feel lighter. “I can teach you,” he offers, his bright blues looking deeply into your eyes, so full of affection that it makes your breath catch for a second.

And in that second - because that’s all it takes - everything shifts. For the better. Always for the better, because it’s hard to feel anything negative when Bucky smiles at you the way he does.

“you deserve

the kind of love

like hot coffee between your lips

that loves you gently

but makes you bold

and gives you life between the sips”

- a.b.

[vintagebuckybarnes]

Pumpkin Spice And Everything Nice

Pairing → College Student! Boyfriend! Bucky Barnes x College Student! Partner! Gender Neutral! Reader

Total Wordcount → 2.2K

Summary → Falling in love with your roommate, Bucky, has been one of the best things ever to have happened to you, and he’s showing you every single day how much he loves you. Today, you’ll turn the tables around by taking him on a surprise date after he tells you he’s never been to a pumpkin patch. Together, you will make some memories you will cherish forever, and a tradition might also be born from it.

Tags & Warnings → Canon divergence, college au, roommate au, roommates turned lovers, domestic bliss bursting the seams of this story, implied lovemaking.

Story Rating → Teen

Author’s Note → This story is written for a writing challenge hosted by @elixirfromthestars! This story is inspired by the Stud & Smartie universe, written by the lovely @navybrat817. I have, of course, tried to give my spin to the story, but I believe in giving credit where credit is due, so thank you so much for inspiring this story, Navy! 💜

Writing Prompts @anyfandomfluffbingo → ”Come back to bed.” @elixirfromthestars → College au | “No, I’m not letting you go. It’s too early to get out of bed.” | “What else do I need if I have my whole world in my arms?” | “I like hearing your heart beating when I put my head on your chest.” @fandom-free-bingo Bug Edition → Food coma @fandom-free-bingo Medical Edition → ‘I always want you to’ | “I’m here.” | Singing in the shower

Tag List → If you’d like to be tagged in my stories, you can add yourself to my tag list here.

Falling in love with your roommate may have been the best thing ever to have happened to you, apart from starting your new, exciting life on the other side of the country. Even though your parents have always given you everything your heart desired, the one thing you always missed was the freedom to explore the world, and even though moving to New York isn’t exactly the other side of the world, it still felt like a dream come true to move out of the small town you used to call home. Now, your home is your roommate and boyfriend, Bucky.

For the past few weeks, the weather in New York City has changed into your favorite season, and the changing colors are making you feel happier than ever. Autumn has always been the time of year that made you feel the happiest, as cozy days at home with hot chocolate and movie nights with rain in the background have calmed your mind down on days when you needed it most. It also means your favorite activity of the year is returning: visiting a pumpkin patch and enjoying as many pumpkin-related treats as you can handle in one day.

The rain is softly tapping against the window as you’re curled up under the covers of your boyfriend’s room - your bed hasn’t seen any sign of life in a little over a month, as you’ve practically moved into his bedroom, seeing that it’s the larger of the two in your apartment. Even though you lived there first, and he became your roommate about a month into your first semester, you moved into the smaller bedroom on your first day, decorating it into a warm, cozy place that now has turned into your reading room.

Bucky’s arm is wrapped around you, his warm body pressed against your back as his lips leave a trail of soft kisses over your neck and shoulder. From the moment you two started officially dating, he has made it his mission to wake you up this way every day, and so far, he’s succeeded every time. Your days have started better, and you’ve also noticed your sleeping habits have improved since sharing a bed with him. However, it also means that your habit of getting up early has gone out the window now that you want to spend as much time together as possible.

“How do you look even more beautiful every morning we spend together, Angel?”

In Bucky’s words, you can feel the heat surging throughout your body, and a smile tugs at the corners of your lips as he compliments you. Without a second thought, you turn around in his hold, gently kissing the tip of his nose once you’re comfortable.

“I’m not sure. It must be because of how happy you make me, Bucky,” you tell him, your fingers trailing softly over his cheekbone. At this, it’s his turn to smile widely, his cheeks reddening at your sweet words. The love between you two is filling your entire apartment, threatening to burst at the seams, and you’ve been wondering for a while if it’s too soon to say it, but you also know you won’t be able to hold it in much longer. And this is precisely why you have planned a special date today.

“I think it’s about time we get up and get ready for my plans today; we still have to drive a little over an hour to get to our destination,” you tell him, but he shakes his head slightly at the thought of leaving the warm nest you two have created. His eyes meet yours lovingly, his entire face softening as he pulls you in for a gentle kiss that takes your breath away.

“No, I’m not letting you go. It’s too early to get out of bed,” Bucky whispers, his deep, gravelly voice finding its way deep into your body and soul as it often does. He could tell you anything he wants, and you’d happily gobble it up as long as it means you getting to hear it as much as possible. A soft, almost inaudible moan slips past your lips as you remember what he told you yesterday as you two were making love in this very same bed, your eyes slipping shut at the thought of it.

“What’s on your mind?” Bucky then asks, despite knowing exactly what’s going through your head. Instead of answering, you pull the duvet over your head to hide from him, and he laughs loudly as he pulls you against his chest, where you happily make yourself comfortable again. Your following words sound a bit muffled to your boyfriend, but they make him smile nevertheless.

“I like hearing your heart beating when I put my head on your chest. It’s comforting,” you tell him, and you two stay like this for a little longer until you really have to get out of bed. By the time Bucky is in the shower belting out one of his go-to shower songs, and you’re making breakfast - pumpkin spiced pancakes with maple syrup - the rain has finally stopped, and the sun is starting to appear, giving you hope for the day to turn beautiful.

The warm smell of spices fills the air as your boyfriend comes out of his room, fully dressed and his hair styled in the usual way. His cheeks are still red from the hot shower as he walks into the kitchen, ready to get more cuddles in before breakfast. As you feel his long, strong arms wrapping around your waist, you sink into his hold, his cologne hanging in the air and the spices you used in the pancakes.

“Something smells good,” he says as he puts his head on your shoulder, peeking over at the growing pile you’ve already created. A smile brightens your face as you lean into your boyfriend’s hold, butterflies in your stomach running rampant at the simple touch. Sometimes, it still feels unreal for you to be together, and this is one of those moments, but you cherish every second as if it might be the last.

“Thank you,” you whisper to your boyfriend as you concentrate on flipping the pancake. A satisfied hum is in the air as you appreciate its golden brown color.

“Now, before I go and finish the pancakes, is there anything else you need from me?” you ask with a teasing hint to your voice, but the answer that came from your boyfriend is something you wouldn’t have expected him to say, instead going for something like whipped cream or extra syrup. He doesn’t disappoint, though.

“What else do I need when I have my whole world in my arms? Unless you’re offering to come back to bed with me, in which case I definitely need you to do that!” You roll your eyes playfully as you chuckle, knowing he’s always looking for ways to get you back in bed to spend the entire day doing nothing but making love.

“If I didn’t have something special planned for today, I would have gone back to bed with you, but I’ve been working on today’s plans for nearly a month, and it seems like a waste to let it go by without a second thought,” you tell him softly after turning in his arms, your hands lying on his shoulders.

“In that case, I’m sticking to your plans today, Angel. I wouldn’t want to disappoint my princess,” he tells you, which has a wave of heat coursing through your veins. Bucky leans in to kiss your lips softly, your eyes slipping shut as he does. When he pulls away, you follow him to get more kisses, and he happily gives them before letting you finish the pancakes and setting up some plates and cutlery on the kitchen island where you two have breakfast together nearly every morning.

“Bucky? Where are you?!” you ask again as you walk through your apartment, ready to go but unable to find your boyfriend. It’s like he’s hiding from you without meaning to do so, and when you finally hear his voice, you let out a breath of relief you weren’t aware you were holding in.

“I’m here, Angel,” he yells from the bathroom attached to your now-shared bedroom. His head pokes around the corner as you walk into the room, plopping down a small bag on the bed before walking over to him and pecking him on the cheek.

“Are you ready to go?” you ask him, and he nods with a broad smile, excitement flowing through his body as he does. How you look up at him has him softening, his neck bending to capture your lips with his. It doesn't take long for the two of you to be in your car, singing along loudly to your favorite music while enjoying some snacks you brought in preparation for your date.

Once you're nearing your destination, Bucky is increasingly curious about what you will do. So far, you have given him practically nothing to work with other than saying you're going somewhere he's never been before, and he's still wracking his brain over what it could possibly be.

"I think it's unfair that you're not giving any hints, Angel; how am I supposed to know where we're going if you're not saying anything?" A slight pout on his lips makes you chuckle as you glance over briefly, and your butterflies inside are again going wild.

"I think it's entirely fair because you always surprise me with the most romantic dates, so today, I will give you a taste of your medicine. It might not be as romantic as you leaving rose petals everywhere before cooking me a fancy dinner and taking me to bed afterward, but I'm sure it'll be a close second."

As Bucky looks outside after your comment, a small smile tugging at his mouth, he suddenly spots a large sign for a pumpkin patch, and it all clicks.

"You're taking me to a pumpkin patch, right?!" The excitement is audible as his voice raises slightly near the end. Not too long ago, he confessed to you that he had never been to a pumpkin patch while growing up, so today, you'll change that. After a few hours of research, you found one that's supposedly amazing, and even though it's a nearly three-hour car ride away, you're more than willing to drive to see his first reaction to visiting a pumpkin patch.

"Wait-" he says, narrowing his eyes at you, "- you've been giving hints for a while, huh? The fall decorations, pumpkins appearing in our apartment, the pumpkin pancakes..." As he pieces everything together, you can't help but feel proud of being able to go through this experience with him.

"Hm-hmm."

The rest of the car ride, you two discuss every hint you've dropped, even the ones he didn't pick up on, and when you arrive, it's like heaven's gates have opened based on your boyfriend's expression. He takes you everywhere, eyes growing wide as the two of you take your time taking everything in.

There are a few food stands that sell the most delicious pumpkin and apple treats, as well as a hot chocolate stand, different games having to do with pumpkins, a maze built out of pumpkins, and last but not least, a patch to pick your pumpkin to take home for carving.

The happiness in his eyes is childlike in the best possible way, and he can't stop squeezing your hand in excitement as he takes a moment to stop at every stand and game, wanting to try everything.

"Would you like me to buy you a treat of my choice?" you ask him as you stand in front of a stand that sells countless types of pumpkin—and apple-flavored pastries, as well as drinks such as apple cider and pumpkin-spiced lattes.

"I always want you to choose something for me, Angel. You have the best taste in everything related to baked goods. I'm happy to end the day in some sort of a food coma if you keep choosing these amazing treats," he says, and your mouth curls into a smile as you order two warm apple turnovers and a large slice of a classic pumpkin pie to share. Bucky gets you both a cup of hot chocolate from the stand directly next to it, and once you've found a comfortable spot to enjoy your treats, you're happily diving in.

"Bucky, I have something to tell you-"

"I'll let you finish in a moment, but first, I must tell you something, Angel. I cannot thank you enough for taking me here! The weather is fantastic, the treats are heavenly, and most importantly, it made me realize how much I love you."

As he says the words, you're overwhelmed with emotions, tears brimming at your waterline as they sink in. Knowing that he feels the same about you and loves you is a feeling you could only dream of, but knowing it's true has your heart beating out of your chest from pure excitement.

"I love you too, Bucky," you whisper, followed by a kiss that seals your words. They're finally in the universe, and you couldn't be happier. Out of all the things you thought would come out of going to college, you never in a million years falling in love with your roommate would be one of those things.

Even though your life may not always have been the most exciting, you're now looking forward to the excitement and love Bucky will bring from here on out, starting with going to a pumpkin patch every year to relive the moment you're currently experiencing.

Masterlist → Bucky Barnes

GIF: Source → All the other graphics are made by @vintagebuckybarnes

[starsoverbrooklyn]

just the headline, doll: fleeting augustine. (bakery au) starring... post-war!Bucky Barnes x f!baker!Reader storm ahead, sweetheart: a flip-switch of fluff to angsty. mention of Steve's canon ‘death’. topics of loss, grief, silent comfort. inked just for you: 2,284 a word from yours truly: a bit of a longer piece to sandwich in between the daily drabbles. inspiration pulled from @elixirfromthestars's cafe writing challenge! i started this on my main blog back when the challenge first opened, ambitious in wanting to make it a longer piece that delve into more of a 'August' by Taylor Swift vibe between the characters, eventually... (hence the title that i got too attached to, to change), but i heavily siked myself out. better late than ever & just in time for my heal-write journey. hope you enjoy! ♡⋆｡°✩ -rrinnie

“How much for fresh strawberries?”

Mrs. Cardinal’s voice lilts across the counter, soft and honeyed like sun-warmed tea. Her eyes peer at you from over the rim of her glasses, the corners crinkled with a smile that carries decades of warmth. She looks down at the paper catalog, her fingers brushing over the glossy image of a frosted cake as if it were something sacred.

You return her smile, one corner of your mouth hitching higher than the other. “Eighteen cents for the full top, six for decorative placement… but for you? I’ll cut it in half. Sound fair?”

Her breath catches with delight. “Bless your soul,” she coos. “My husband loves the darn things. I’ll take the full top.”

You nod, scribbling her request on the order form, the scratch of your pencil soft against the hum of the ovens. “He’s a lucky man,” you remark, eyes still on the paper. “Can’t remember the last time someone came in just because. I’d wager it’s never happened.”

Her chuckle is low and tender, like a secret between friends. She pats the counter with a weathered hand. “When you’ve been with someone as long as I have, you don’t wait for birthdays to say you’re thinking of ‘em. Time’s a fragile thing, sweets—especially these days.”

You offer a quiet nod, your smile faltering just slightly. “I’ll have to remember that.”

“Oh, it’s true,” she insists, her voice turning fond but firm. “You’re young. This place keeps you busy, I can see that. But if you’ve got someone—someone who makes all of this make sense—you hold onto them.”

You lift your gaze to her, polite, appreciative… but the smile you give her is hollow at the edges. That topic always finds its way to you, carried on the backs of women who see too much.

She doesn’t notice. Or maybe she does. Maybe that’s why her next question lands so heavy.

“How’s that friend of yours? The sergeant.”

Your jaw tightens. One eye twitches, a betrayal of calm. “He’s fine,” you answer, too quickly. “We’ve been writing.” Half-truth. Whole ache. She beams at the news, unaware—or choosing not to be.

You reach for her arm, fingers warm against her sleeve. “When would you like to pick this up?”

She hums, tilting her head in thought. “Tomorrow at noon, dear?”

“Perfect.”

You tear the carbon copy from the pad and hand it to her. She cups your hands in hers, gratitude spilling from her like petals from an overripe bloom. Then she’s gone, out the door with a flutter of her shawl, and the bell above the entrance chimes one last, gentle note.

You sigh, swiping the sweat from your brow with the back of your hand, the kitchen’s heat pressing against your skin like a second body. The scent of baking croissants coils through the air, a thin consolation. You slip behind the swinging door, half-ready to disappear into flour-dusted solitude.

You reach for a tin of sugar balanced precariously atop a bag of almond flour—just a quick tidy, just to feel in control of something—but the moment your fingers graze the edge, the whole tower of ingredients gives out beneath your touch.

Flour erupts like smoke in the air. A bag bursts open on impact, powder dusting your shirt, your arms, your lashes. Sugar scatters in a crystalline spray across the floor. A metal canister rolls under the counter, clattering in protest.

You stand frozen, jaw clenched, hands still lifted mid-air like you can rewind time if you just don’t move.

Then—

The bell rings again.

A sharp, metallic jingle. Unexpected. Unforgiving.

“Shit,” you mutter, voice low with guilt as the word slips. “Coming! Just a minute!”

You push up from your crouch, white dust blooming from your apron like snowfall. The floor groans beneath your step, flour slick and treacherous beneath your boots.

“You’re not looking too hot, Dottie.”

That voice—husky, teasing—strikes your spine like a tuning fork. You don’t need to see him to know who it is.

You spin, startled, your foot catching the edge of a flour pile. Gravity pulls, sharp and cruel—

But it never lands.

A strong hand snatches yours, jerking you forward and into the solid wall of his chest. His hands find your shoulders, steadying. Anchoring. The heat of him seeps through your apron, and your breath stutters from the proximity.

You don’t dare look up. Not yet.

The chest beneath your cheek shakes with a soft laugh, and even now—off-balance, embarrassed—it’s the most beautiful sound you’ve heard all day.

“When a girl says ‘one minute,’ she usually means from outside the swinging door,” you mutter, your voice tight with residual panic.

One hand tips your chin up gently, guiding your gaze to his. Those blue eyes—stormcloud and silver—crinkle with mischief, and you feel the floor give way beneath your knees all over again.

You swear you’ve seen them enough times to be immune.

You are not.

“Lucky I didn’t wait,” he says, stepping back just far enough to take in the disaster of flour and sugar. He whistles, low and unimpressed. “Jesus, Dot. You sure this isn’t a cry for help? I know some gals who swear nursing’s their true calling.”

You roll your eyes. “Hilarious.”

He follows you to the broom, walking backward like a devil in uniform. When you reach for it, he beats you there, grabbing it with a smug little flourish.

“Just looking out for you. Should’ve said something after you put Dots on a cake,” he teases, his distaste for the gumdrops evident by the scrunch of his nose. He rests his chin atop his stacked hands on the broom’s tip.

“Instead, you branded me with a nickname every grandmother in Brooklyn answers to.”

“Ah, but ours is special,” he pouts. “Just between me and you.”

You hold out your hand. He feigns compliance, then snatches the broom away, sauntering toward the radio perched on the shelf.

“Bucky—don’t you dare.”

He shushes you with a finger to his lips, twisting the dial. Static crackles, and then—guitar, soft and lazy like a summer afternoon.

He turns. Broom raised to his lips like a mic.

“I’m gonna buy a paper doll that I can call my own…”

You groan, backing away, but he follows. Swaying. Singing. Off-key and utterly relentless.

He catches you by the waist the moment you’re within reach, pulling you in with an easy strength. You press against his chest in mock protest, but the smile curling your lips betrays you.

“A doll that other fellows cannot steal,” he croons, the melody curling from his mouth like campfire smoke, warm and familiar.

“Let me sweep,” you protest, half-hearted and breathless—before a sudden squeal escapes you as he lifts you clean off the ground, spinning you like a record.

“And then the flirty, flirty guys,” he sings, voice dripping with exaggerated charm, “with their flirty, flirty eyes will have to flirt with dollies that are real—”

“Sing with me!” he laughs, cutting off his faux vibrato with a grin so wide it crinkles the corners of his eyes.

“When I come home at night, she will be waiting,” you deadpan, rushing the line like you’re trying to outrun the song itself. You toss your head back in mock defeat, groaning as he twirls you right through the minefield of flour and sugar. “Bucky, you idiot!”

“She’ll be the truest doll in all this world!” he bellows, now fully off-key and entirely unapologetic, relishing your exasperation.

“I’d rather have a paper doll to call my own…” 

He dips you low, grinning like a fool, pointing the makeshift microphone to your lips. His eyes are sparked with mischief as he juts his chin toward you, brows raised in expectant encouragement.

“Than have a fickle-minded, real live girl,” you sing in surrender, shaking your head even as your lips twitch with laughter.

“Beautiful!” he declares, lifting you upright and twirling you with flourish as the music swells. He spins you out with a theatrical flare, launching into a sloppy, exaggerated swing routine. You burst into laughter, and the sound only spurs him on—he kicks through a puff of flour like it’s part of the choreography, his every move more ridiculous than the last.

“Your boots and trousers!” you gasp, pressing both hands to his chest in a futile attempt to stop him. He only grins wider, undeterred, spinning you faster than the music can keep up.

Flour kicks up with every misstep, but his joy is uncontainable—reckless and radiant, impossible to resist. His laughter rings out, infectious enough to melt any scolding you had planned. Just as you’re caught in the pull of it, his arms sweep beneath you again, and you’re lifted in a dizzying whirl.

Then the floor decided it’d endured enough abuse.

You feel the moment his balance falters—see the flicker of panic in his eyes just before his shoe skids across the floor and the broom clatters down beside you.

And then you’re both falling.

Your body collapses into his with a startled yelp, and his back hits the floor hard enough to shake the cabinets. A sharp thud, a choked grunt—and suddenly, you’re tangled together in the wreckage of sugar and song.

He groans, half winded, half laughing, breath hitching through coughs and fractured chuckles. You scramble upright, flustered and flinging flour from your clothes, but he stays down, one knee bent as he props himself up with an elbow.

With his free hand, he rips the visor cap from his head and tosses it into the mess around him, the gesture as dramatic as the rest of his performance. The last bars of the song warble through the static of the radio, comically triumphant.

You lurch for the dial and spin it down before the next tune can start, your heart still racing as silence spills into the room.

“You idiot,” you snap, half-scolding, half-awed. “You ruined your uniform.”

“You look worse,” he counters, smiling despite it all. He rises, dusting himself off. Then his hands—warm, worn—cup your face. Everything stills.

“I’ve missed you.”

It takes you a beat to answer. “I’ve missed you too.”

But something shifts.

It’s subtle at first—just a flicker, a change in the way his jaw tightens, the way his eyes drift past your shoulder like he’s watching something no one else can see. The air pulls taut between you, as if it senses what’s coming.

His voice, when it comes, is quiet. Too quiet. “Steve went down in a German aircraft.”

Your brows knit, confusion tugging at your features—but he doesn’t give you time to ask.

“A Valkyrie,” he adds, hollow. “One of theirs. He intercepted every bomb meant for American soil. Saved everyone.”

Your mouth parts. No sound comes.

And still, he keeps going. Not for you—for himself—like he’s trying to force the words out before they strangle him. “He called from the cockpit before it happened. Didn’t say goodbye. Just… made a promise to his girl.” His voice falters. “You could hear it—how scared he was. He knew he wouldn’t make it.”

The world narrows, the kitchen shrinking around you, suddenly too small to hold the weight of what he’s saying.

“No,” you whisper, but it’s a ghost of a protest, thin and useless. You know better. You can see it in his face. He doesn’t need to be believed—he needs to survive saying it out loud.

“He thought it was over. Thought he’d make it back. But the Valkyrie was still locked on course for New York. No backup. No way out. He just… accepted it. Like a man who’s known his whole life he was on borrowed time.”

His lips twitch—not a smile—something else. A wound reopening.

“He got what he always wanted. Fulfilled his duty right to the end. Like a soldier. Like a hero.”

Your hand finds his arm, fingers pressing in like you could anchor him here. “I’m sorry, Buck.”

His eyes flick to yours—something raw and ugly and breaking just beneath the surface. “He saved me,” he says, almost like repentance. “Twice.”

You try to soothe. “And you would’ve done the same for him.”

He laughs. Cold. Hollow. “Would’ve. Could’ve. Doesn’t mean I did.”

His voice drops. “I watched him jump on that plane. I heard him choose to die. And I let him.”

“Don’t,” you say, the word trembling with the weight of everything unspoken. “Don’t do that to yourself. It’s not fair.”

“He was Captain America,” Bucky says. His tone isn’t reverent—it’s bitter. Blistering. “And I’m what’s left.”

You step forward, unable to bear the space between you any longer. His face is hot under your palms, flushed with grief and guilt, tears already brimming and unshed.

“What’s not fair,” he chokes, “is he’s gone. And I’m not.”

He doesn’t fight the sob that tears from him, doesn’t hide the way he folds under your touch like a man unraveling at the seams. You hold him as he sinks, your arms catching the weight he’s been carrying alone.

His fingers fist in your apron like a drowning man clinging to shore. His body trembles against yours—not with weakness, but with too much feeling crammed into a frame never meant to bear it all.

And when he finally breaks, when the sobs come rough and ragged against your collarbone, you don’t shush him. Don’t try to make it okay.

You let him cry. You need him to cry.

Because this is the cost of surviving. Of being the one left behind.

And you would rather carry his grief than let him carry it alone.

Because he’s here.

He came back in pieces, but he came back.

And you will love every shattered one.

[nicoline1998enilocin]

The Only One For Me || Part 2

PAIRING || Boyfriend! College Student! Young! Tony Stark x Girlfriend! College Student! Female! Reader

WORDCOUNT || 11.4K

SUMMARY || Life with Tony as your boyfriend has been a dream, and now you're both getting ready to take your relationship to the next level. After that night, you feel like a different person, and you're happy to have shared this moment with him.

RATING || Explicit (E) 

WARNINGS/TAGS || College AU. No powers AU. Young! Tony Stark AU. Established relationship. Sexual tension. Explicit sexual content.

SMUT || Virgin! Tony. Virgin! Reader. First time. Hand job. Oral (M&F receiving). Unprotected sex (Reader is on birth control). Fingering. Teasing. Praise. Dirty talk. Hair pulling. Back scratching.

A/N || This story has been requested by my best friend and the most amazing person on earth, @ccbsrmsf1! I wish you the happiest birthday today, bestie, and many more beautiful years. I love you and look forward to working on more stories for and with you in the future! 🤍

A/N 2.0 || I want to thank the sweet @mostly-marvel-musings for proofreading this story and lifting it to a new level! I appreciate you so much, and I'm forever grateful 🤍

EVENTS @elixirfromthestars Elixir’s Cinema || I burn for you… + I do… I need you. + “Kiss me.” @fandom-free-bingo Frosty Edition || Teasing @fandom-free-bingo Maritime May Edition || Brushing their hair + First meeting@julybreakbingo Post-JBB || Fear of rejection

All the graphics in this post are made by @nicoline1998enilocin

Main Masterlist || Tony Stark || The Only One For Me || Part 1 || Part 3

The past month has been a blast, as you get to spend as much time as possible with your best friend, Natasha Romanoff, her boyfriend, Bruce Banner, and your very own boyfriend - the tall, muscular, sweet, and shy Tony Stark. From the moment you were on your first date together, you two have grown even closer, and now he’s getting ready to meet you for dinner to celebrate your one-month-anniversary. For the past few weeks, he’s been planning to ask you to go to the upcoming spring dance with him, and tonight will be the night to pop the question.

“Are you sure she will like this?” Tony asks as he stands in front of his life-size mirror, trying on the third outfit as he’s deciding on what to wear. Bruce sits comfortably on his desk chair and looks over at his best friend, trying to assess if the outfit he’s wearing now is the one as his brows furrow.

“Hmm, maybe you should go with lighter jeans instead,” he offers, and Tony lets out a small sigh as he swaps out his black jeans for a pair of light blue ripped jeans. Though it’s not something he wears often, he’s willing to give it a shot, and it’ll go well with the jacket he plans to wear for the night. Once your boyfriend is back in front of the mirror, he smiles as he looks approvingly at the outfit Bruce has helped him put together.

“Glasses or contacts?” he then asks, holding up his glasses as an option.

“Definitely glasses; you know she always goes wild when you wear them, right?”

Tony’s cheeks turn bright red at his best friend’s remark, and a soft ‘okay’ slips from his lips before he puts them on top of his head and walks into the bathroom to switch his contacts for the glasses. You’ve mentioned a few times how sexy and adorable he looks when wearing them, and it will always be a deadly combination for you and your entirely ruined panties in the best way possible.

While Tony is taking his time to get ready, you’re doing the same for the dinner he has invited you to. Your outfit is laid out on the bed after Natasha has put it together with pieces from both your closets, and all you need to decide on now is which shoes to pair with them. However, this is definitely causing a debate between you and your friend.

“I promise you that I’ll be much more comfortable in my boots than your heels! I can barely walk 20 feet in these before I break an ankle,” you tell her with furrowed brows as you hold up a pair of your stiletto heels. The entire time, you feel the nerves swarming through your stomach as you’re afraid to make the wrong choice, wanting this night to be nothing short of perfect.

“Detka. Listen to me,” Natasha says sternly, and you can’t help but meet her gaze in the mirror.

“He will love you in everything you put on tonight - or any other night. You could wear your fluffiest slippers or your highest heels, he wouldn’t even notice! The last thing he’ll be looking at is your shoes, because that man has nothing but eyes for you before kissing you senseless. Trust me, you can wear anything you want, and anything you will decide is going to be perfect.”

When she’s done, you let her words sink in as you look at both pairs of shoes you’re holding. Deep down you know she’s right, and the last thing he will think about is your shoes, so you decide to go with the pair of black chelsea boots to finish the outfit, following your initial thoughts. Then it’s time to work on your hair and make-up before slipping on the clothes, and you look nothing short of beautiful when you’re done.

“I can’t wait to see what Tony thinks when he picks you up,” your best friend says as your fingers slide over the soft lace of the bodysuit. While it’s something that’s usually out of your comfort zone, it doesn’t look out of place on your curves, and you’re both sure Tony’s jaw will be on the floor when he sees you. She also looks at you with a prideful gaze, as she couldn’t be prouder of the happiness radiating off you both when you’re together.

“Believe me, neither can I,” you say with a shy smile, warmth spreading through your cheeks as you’re looking at yourself one last time, admiring all the hard work you and Natasha have put in while getting ready. It doesn’t take long for Tony to arrive after, and you squeal excitedly when you hear his knocks on the door.

“Have fun!” Natasha says as you rush past her, ready to greet your boyfriend. It’s been a little over a week since you’ve seen him in person due to your busy schedules. Now that the end of your degree is nearing, you’re both busier than ever, and you’ve both been looking forward to this reunion. When the door swings open, you’re met with a broad smile and a sight to ruin every last pair of your panties, as Tony looks especially handsome tonight.

“Hi, Angel,” he says as his hands are in his pockets, a blush already on his cheeks as he takes in your outfit for the night. His eyes get stuck on the revealing lace of your bodysuit, and he’s glad to be wearing a pair of his baggier jeans today, as they’ll help to hide the fact that he’s rather excited to see what you look like tonight. You barely get a chance to greet him back, as he gently pushes you against the door to kiss you, not able to stay away from you for another second.

His lips are soft yet demanding when they slide together with yours, a soft moan escaping your lips as his thumb caresses your cheek, while his other hand gently squeezes your hip, taking domination of every sense in your body. His cologne fills your nostrils as you two take the time to greet one another with this kiss, as it has been long overdue. You’ve been waiting for this moment for longer than you’ve wanted, but it’s been worth every minute.

Your bodies mold together beautifully, and it feels like coming home as you two take your time with the kiss. When it’s time for you both to get some air, you can’t stop smiling at him, the butterflies in your stomach going wild as you look into his shimmering dark brown eyes. His shy smile also makes your heart melt, as he looks more handsome than you’ve seen him ever look to this moment.

“Buon anniversario di un mese, angelo mio,” Tony says, making your heart melt at the foreign language slipping from his tongue as naturally as when he speaks English. He’s been raised bilingual - his Mom, Maria Stark, is from Italy so his parents have raised him with both English and Italian - but rarely speaks Italian outside of his parents’ home. However, when you found out that he speaks Italian, you’ve been encouraging him to do it more, making your heart melt as a result each time he does.

Then, after a few more pecks on your lips, Tony reaches into his back pocket from where he grabs a long, slender present wrapped in stunning red and gold wrapping paper. Your eyes go wide at the sight of the present, and you suddenly feel bad for not having anything for him, as you haven’t been able to go out and pick the perfect gift for him. You’re about to tell him exactly that, but he’s ahead of you, reassuring you that it’s okay that you don’t have one.

“All I want is to spend time with you on a night that’s special to us, Angel. Your presence and your smile are the best gifts you can possibly give me,” he says, which makes you smile and melt even harder. If you weren’t already deeply in love with him, you surely would be now, as he never fails to say the right thing. Then you move to open the present, making Tony smile widely as he patiently waits for you to take the wrapping off.

Inside is a necklace with a delicate chain and a small ‘T’ on it, and the color of it compliments your skin beautifully. Unable to know what to say to such a gift, you instead take it out of the small box it’s currently sitting in, holding it up to get an even better look at it.

“Can you put it on for me?” you then ask, and Tony obliges by taking the chain out of your hand and putting it on, his fingers sending sparks through your body, your skin feeling warm from where he touches you. He has picked the perfect length, and when you turn around he gasps softly, as you’re now proudly wearing his initial.

“You look even more beautiful than you already did, Angel. Sono l'uomo più fortunato ad essersi innamorato di qualcuno bello come te,” Tony whispers as he gazes into your eyes, and he has never felt luckier to be yours than he is now, just like he just said. Though you can’t understand the words he’s saying, you’re still enjoying them thoroughly, as Tony speaking Italian is something you will never stop encouraging.

“Ti amo, Tony,” you whisper before smiling and standing on your tiptoes to kiss him again, the words he was going to say now swallowed by your lips on his. His cheeks are on fire as his fingers dig gently into your hips, and the simmering flame that’s been slowly growing between you two is quickly turning to a large fire, passion growing with every passing second between you two.

“We- We should go to dinner,” Tony says with a smile after pulling away, a little out of breath as he gently puts his forehead against yours. You smile back at him as you close your eyes, your own chest rising and falling quickly as well. Once you’re both ready to go, he interlocks his fingers with yours before leading you out of your dorm and towards one of the most romantic restaurants New York has to offer.

The two of you were quickly seated at a table that offers a beautiful view of the New York skyline, as Tony has pulled out every last stop to make the night unforgettable. It doesn’t take long for a waiter to bring out two menus and water for you both, which Tony happily pours before taking a sip, the nerves in his stomach growing with every passing second. The last time he was this nervous was right before the kissing booth, when he was about to kiss you for the first time.

“Can I ask you something?” Tony asks after taking another sip of the water the waiter just brought over, his voice shaking slightly due to the growing tension in his body. His nerves are higher than he thought they would be, but he also knows that he needs to ask what he’s about to ask. You look up at him from the menu you’ve been given, brows furrowed and worry visible on your face.

“Of course, Handsome. You can ask me anything,” you say in a reassuring tone, his cheeks turning red at the nickname.

“I- I know this is a bit silly but- I was wondering if you’d like to be my date to the spring dance,” he asks as the burning on his cheeks intensifies, turning them to a deep red as the words come out of his mouth. Even though he’s not entirely sure why he’s asking you this - you’re his girlfriend, after all -, he’s still happy he managed to get the words out without making a fool out of himself.

“I don’t think it’s silly to ask a question, Tony. But to answer yours; I would love to be your date to the spring dance. It wouldn’t be the same without you,” you tell him, and he smiles brightly at your words. Sometimes, Tony needs some extra reassurance - especially after some of his past relationships that have caused a fear of rejection in him -, and you’re always happy to give him exactly that. Nothing is weird or out of bounds for you two, and you know you can always ask for anything you need.

“Thank you, Angel. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he says before grabbing your hand and bringing it to his lips, kissing the back of it softly. Heat takes over your cheeks as you look at what he does, happiness settling in your stomach. Each day seems even more special than the last with him, and you’re grateful to be loved by a man like him, wanting nothing more than to experience this love for the rest of your life with him.

Then, as you’re about to say something the waiter comes back to take your orders, and when those are given, the conversation turns light, with Tony cracking jokes and talking about your shared interests before you’ll both enjoy some of the most delicious food you’ve ever had. When every last bite is gone, it’s time for your favorite dessert: a rich, creamy tiramisu that has your mouth watering at the sight.

“Wow,” you whisper as you take in its beauty, and Tony grabs a spoon so he’ll be able to give you the first bite. As he lifts the utensil to your lips, his gaze is trained on your mouth the entire time, his body reacting instantly as he hears your reaction to the sweetness of the tiramisu. 

A soft moan escapes your lips as the dessert practically melts in your mouth, Tony’s hand still in the air as he looks at the way your face turns into a look of pure pleasure. He never would have expected that feeding someone dessert could be this intimate, but he’s not minding it in the slightest. Simultaneously, he’s also grateful that his lap is covered by both the table and a napkin, so no one can see what your reaction to the softness of the desert is doing to him. The moan escaping your lips has him painfully hard, but he’s willing it to go away quickly, as there’s nothing he can do about it now, no matter how much his desire is telling him to do it.

“This is delicious, Tony. I would almost dare to say it’s better than having an orgasm,” you say in a slightly teasing tone, your own cheeks turning just as dark as your boyfriend’s at the mention of orgasms. Though you both have been open and honest about never having had sex before, you’re no stranger to helping yourself to take the edge off, and it’s something that’s been going through your mind a lot since getting together with Tony.

What you don’t know, however, is that Tony is planning to make your first time together extremely special, because not only will it be your first time together, it will also be your first time ever for you both, and you’re looking forward to that moment, as it’s going to be a night never to forget. However, the time to head back to your dorm arrives all too soon, as neither of you wants this night to end yet.

As the door of your dorm comes into sight, you squeeze Tony’s fingers in anticipation of what’s to come, but you’re caught by surprise when he pushes you against the wall, his lips immediately fighting over dominance with yours as his hands explore your curves, his warm body ensuring you’re not able to go anywhere. Your fingers are laced in his messy locks as you share the steamy kiss, and soft groans fill the hallway as you gently tug on his roots.

“Fuck-” he says as you pull his head back, allowing you to place kisses on the sensitive places on his neck. If it were up to you, you’d pull him into your dorm right now to share a night of passion, but that’s not what you’ve discussed, so for now, you’ll gladly stick to these steamy make-out sessions whenever you have the chance.

“Angel, please,” Tony says as his hand cups your neck, squeezing softly to get your attention. You pull back to reveal the marks you’ve been putting there, pride blooming in your chest at the sight of them. They’ll most likely disappear before the end of the night but you’re still happy with every last one of them.

“We should get some rest-” he says, only to be cut off by another kiss, as you’re unable to get enough of him. He smiles against your lips as he returns the sentiment of passion, but eventually he pulls back, the need for air becoming too much.

“I love you so much, Angel. I can’t get enough of you and your sweet, soft lips and this beautiful body of yours,” he says, his voice breathy as he’s trying to catch his breath.

“But, I also really need to get back to my dorm. I have an early class tomorrow that I can’t miss,” he says, his eyes softening from the lustful gaze he had not too long ago. His cheeks are bright red as he looks at you, and you nod in understanding before pecking his lips a few more times, making him smile shyly.

“I love you too,” you whisper before pulling him in for a hug, his body enveloping yours perfectly as you bury your nose in his jacket, his cologne filling your senses as you enjoy these last moments with your boyfriend. All too soon for your liking he pulls back before placing a kiss on your forehead and heading back to his dorm room, where he’s getting ready for his early class, and to visit his parents to get some advice, too.

The moment Tony walks into his parents’ house, it’s like a wave of Italy washes over him, his smile growing wider with every step. He loves the independence of living in the dorms on campus, but coming home to his Mom and Dad is a moment he always cherishes, as there’s not a single better feeling than being enveloped in the warmth of their house. Well, that is other than being around you and feeling your lips on his. 

“Ciao, tesoro mio. Mi sei mancata così tanto!”

Maria’s voice fills the hallway as her heels click on the tile flooring, her arms stretched wide to welcome her son home. She’s always the first to greet him when he’s back, and he happily melts into her arms as they embrace. one another. Tony loves her with all his heart and soul, and the bond the two of them share is indescribable - there’s nothing either one of them wouldn’t do for the other.

“Anche tu mi sei mancata, mamma,” he whispers as they move from side to side, her grip not loosening for a second.

“You should really be careful not to crush him, Maria,” Howard says as he walks into the hallway where his wife and son are still holding each other. It’s been much too long since he’s seen his parents, and he’s happy to be back.

“I’m not,” she huffs as she lets Tony go, her hands on her son’s cheeks as she inspects him. He’s practically glowing now that he’s together with you, and she can’t stop smiling up at him, their height difference making her crane her neck to look at him.

“Welcome home, son. It’s good to see you again,” Howard then says before pulling Tony into an embrace of his own, and Tony returns the sentiment, letting them both know it’s good to be back. He can’t wait to introduce you - his Angel, the love of his life and the woman he wants to grow old with - to them as well, as he’s positive they will love you from the moment they meet you. His cheeks start burning at the thought of you, as you are the reason he’s here in the first place, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by Maria who pats his cheek lovingly.

“So, how is everything going between you and Y/N? We’ve been looking forward to meeting her,” Maria says as he ushers Tony into the dining room so he can sit down. It doesn’t take long before there’s a refreshing cup of iced tea in front of him, just like his Mom used to make when he was growing up. His smile widens at the mention of your name, and he couldn’t be more excited to tell them all about you.

“It’s going well,” he starts off, his mind flooding with memories he has made with you so far.

“Even though we’re both incredibly busy with assignments and tests, we’re spending as much time together as we can, and I can’t get enough of her presence. She’s so loving, funny and sweet. I think you’ll like her, mamma. She radiates the same warmth and love as you, and it makes her just as special as you,” he tells his mom, which makes her blush intensely this time.

It is clear where he got the blushing from, as he looks a lot like Maria in this moment, making Howard’s heart melt as he looks at his beautiful wife and amazing son.

“Vederti così felice mi rende orgogliosa di te, bambina mia. Mi rende una mamma felice,” Maria says. Whenever she’s expressing these words of love and pride, she often resorts to her native language of Italian, as she can show her love even more that way. Tony’s mouth curls into a smile as he listens to her say how proud she is of his happiness, and he couldn’t agree more.

“Grazie mamma. Sono molto fortunata ad avere una donna come il mio Angelo al mio fianco,” Tony responds softly, and he thinks about you as he says it. He’s very lucky to have met you in this lifetime, and he’s told you before that he hopes to have the honor of falling in love with you in every single universe and lifetime after this one. Maria leads Tony to the living room as Tony has told them before he wanted to discuss something, though embarrassment is slowly filling his being at the thought of asking for the kind of advice he’s about to receive.

“Well- uhm… There’s a- a reason I’m here,” Tony starts off as he’s comfortable on the couch with the tea Maria has made for him, his voice low and his entire body feeling like it’s on fire as he’s trying to find the courage to say what’s on his mind. He nervously plays with the hem of his shirt while his gaze pointed to his knees as the nerves are getting the best of him; and then Maria reaches out, gently laying her hand on her son’s fidgeting fingers.

“What’s on your mind, Mi Amore?” she asks, and Tony sighs before looking up and meeting her gaze, her brows furrowed in worry as she looks at Tony.

“I- I’m hoping to get some… advice, from you both. I know we’ve talked about the birds and the bees, but- but I would like some more advice than that,” he says, his mind going into overdrive as he thinks of every possible answer they could give. Thankfully, they have always reassured him that he can come to them with anything, and that’s exactly why he found the courage to ask for advice.

“I’ve been talking with Y/N, and we want to take the next step soon, but- uhm- I’m still a virgin. We both are, actually,” he tells them, and Howard hums in response, while Maria squeezes his hand in encouragement.

“I- I know how to use protection and stuff, but I’m wondering if there are other things I should think about? Or do things to make it more enjoyable for us? I don’t want our first time to be bad, so…” his voice trails off near the end, relief washing over him that he finally managed to say it out loud. He trusts his parents with everything, and he’s happy to have the type of relationship to come to them with these kinds of questions, too.

“Before you do anything, please ensure that you’re both 100% on board with it. If there’s even a sliver of doubt on either side, you shouldn’t push it. There’s nothing more important than consent, and with that comes a deep trust,” Howard says, now leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. He’s at eye-level with Tony, who nods in agreement. The burning in his cheeks is slowly subsiding, though he’s still beet red as ever, making him look adorable.

“While everything we just discussed is very important, there’s one more thing I want to ensure you know. After you’ve had all your fun, and you’re both enjoying that post-sex haze,” Howard says very matter-of-factly, making Tony blush all over again, “it’s very important to do aftercare. Don’t just roll over and call it a night, but take care of yourself and her by cuddling, for example, or maybe take a shower together.”

“Or a romantic bath with champagne and some fruit,” Maria says as she looks at Howard with a shimmer of excitement in her eyes, her husband smiling back at her with nothing but pure love. Tony quickly pieces together that it is something that they tend to enjoy, and he’s unsure whether to be happy for them, or be weirded out by it, as he’d rather not think about his parents doing things like that.

“So, aftercare. That’s good to know,” Tony says, his cheeks a fiery shade of red as the conversation is finally nearing it’s end. While he loves that he can talk to his parents about anything, he’s still a little uneasy when it comes to sex, which is only intensified by the fact that his first time is going to happen soon, and he wants everything to be perfect for you both.

“Is there anything else you’d like to know?” Howard asks, but Tony shakes his head - he has had enough sex-talk for one day, though he’s very grateful for their advice. Now, he’s looking forward to using all of his knowledge during your first time, wanting it to be nothing short of perfect for you both.

The days leading up to the spring dance seemed to crawl by at a snail’s pace, the classes feeling like they’re never ending and the assignments feeling like they’re becoming longer and more difficult, too. It’s only a figment of your imagination, however, as excitement has settled with you about attending said dance with your boyfriend. Though you’re more excited about what might happen after, because the two of you have discussed your first time together, as well.

It’s been on your mind more and more lately, and now that you’re out shopping with your best friend and roommate, Natasha, you can’t help but bring up the topic of lingerie.

“Do you mind if we go in here for a moment?” you ask as you’re walking by a beautiful looking mannequin that displays delicate, black lace inside one of the storefronts. Natasha hums approvingly before taking a left and walking in the store ahead of you. Even though you’re no stranger to wearing lingerie, it is your first time visiting a store like this, as you’re looking for something special to wear during your first time.

Natasha smiles widely as she heads into the store ahead of you, and you’re soon surrounded with lingerie in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors. However, your eye is immediately drawn to a white set on a mannequin, the lace soft and delicate as it’s wrapped around the curves of the doll. Natasha follows your line of sight as she stands beside you, and without saying a word she’s off to find you the exact set you’ve been eyeing.

Soon, you’re in a spacious dressing room as you slip on the bra, the matching panties feeling delicate against your skin. When it’s all in place you take a good look in the mirror, admiring yourself from every angle as you let thoughts of Tony wander through your mind. You think about his reaction, but also about how quickly he would take it off in favor of having you entirely bare, and that’s when you get an idea.

You picked a short silk robe in a cream color to try on as well, and you slip it on, the fabric gliding over your skin as if it’s made just for you. You tie it loosely before standing in front of the floor to ceiling mirror, ensuring you can still see bits of the lingerie and some skin before snapping a few photos - both for your personal collection, as well as to send Tony to tease him a little bit.

His response came quickly, and you can’t help but feel your cheeks flush as you see the words “most beautiful Angel” fill the screen. This cements it for you, and you decide to buy all three pieces before changing into your own clothes, ready to pay and grab some dinner with your best friend and roommate.

“And? What did he think of it?” Natasha asks with a raised brow, making you smile at her words. Somehow, she always seems to be able to read you without fault, knowing exactly what you were doing as you took the photos for your boyfriend.

“He loves it,” you say softly, and she nods with a smile before heading to the register and paying for the sets she herself picked out. It’s a mix of red and black, which have become her signature colors, and they both compliment her skin tone perfectly, so she’ll usually be seen wearing one of those two shades.

After grabbing some dinner and settling back in the dorm room, you and Natasha have decided on a movie night with face masks and popcorn, just like you two used to do in the early days of being roommates. It’s become a tradition for you two to do it at least once a month, and tonight is the perfect night as tomorrow is the spring dance. The face masks are one of the brightest shades of blue you’ve ever seen, and you’re both laughing until your stomach aches from the sight of the other looking like smurfs.

It’s been barely 5 minutes since you’ve applied the bright blue face mask to your face when you hear a knock on the door of your shared dorm room, making both you and Natasha curious as to who could be on the other side of the door. You rush over there as quickly as you can, but before you open the door, the person on the other side is already gone, only a golden box left in their place. On top is a small card with your nickname on it, giving away immediately who it’s from.

“Who is it?” Natasha asks after putting some popcorn in a large bowl for your movie night, but you don’t say anything as you pick up the box.

“It’s not who, but what,” you say as you kick the door shut with your foot, the box heavy in your arms as you carry it to your bed, ready to unpack it. Within seconds, she’s by your side to see what’s inside, and you quickly take off the bow that’s been tied around it, so you can finally read the note that’s attached to it.

I love you, il mio meraviglioso angelo.

Wear this tomorrow night, and you’ll be the most beautiful girl at the dance.

I’m looking forward to seeing how angelic you will look as it’ll hug your beautiful curves.

~ Tony ♥️

“Are you kidding me?! That’s the sweetest thing ever!” Natasha exclaims after reading the note, your smile almost splitting your face in half. Your cheeks are burning at the mention of your curves, as Tony has mentioned quite a few times how much he loves them, and that he’s looking forward to worshipping every single inch of your body, leaving your cheeks heated and your heart beating like it’s about to leap out of your chest.

“I know! I wonder what’s inside,” you say softly, and your suspicions are confirmed as you lift the lid. Inside is a deep red gown made of the most beautifully shimmery material you’ve ever seen, and it looks like it’s embellished with diamonds, too. He hasn’t spared a single expense when buying you this dress, making it look as if it could belong on a red carpet in Hollywood.

“Wow,” you both say in unison as you take it out of the box. It’s an off-shoulder dress that’s tighter on top, but flowing near the bottom, allowing you to walk and dance comfortably. The lights of your dorm make the diamond shimmer, and the color accentuates your skin tone perfectly, even now that you’re holding it. You can’t even begin to imagine what it’ll look like when you finally get to put it on.

“You’re definitely lucky with a man like Tony. I don’t know many men who would go out of their way to pick out a dress like this that matches your skin and personality perfectly,” she says, and you’re unable to stop smiling as you hang the dress up for now, not wanting it to get ruined.

“Oh god, I am lucky, aren’t I? I never thought I would find a love like this, but I’m forever grateful to have fallen in love with Tony,” you say as you pull Natasha into a side hug, her arm snaking around your waist to pull you against her side, too.

“And you deserve it, Detka. There’s no one who deserves it more if you ask me,” she says, making your cheeks heat in response. Not only are you lucky with a boyfriend like Tony, but you’ve also won the best friend jackpot with Natasha.

“I love you,” you say proudly, and she returns the sentiment before letting you go and grabbing the bowl of popcorn, ready to rewatch Grease for the thousandth time together.

The day of the dance is finally here, and you’re experiencing a mix of both nerves and excitement, as it’ll be the first school dance that you’ll attend with your boyfriend. The dress he gifted you yesterday is hanging on your closet door, ready to be worn tonight, and the lingerie you’ve bought is ready to be slipped into after your shower. Music is blasting throughout your dorm as Natasha is getting everything ready for the two of you to do your hair and make-up, making a fun girls day out of it.

As you’re working on shaving your legs, you suddenly hear your phone going off, and you can’t help but take a peek around the shower curtain, your heart rate spiking at the sight of Tony’s name.

Tony >> I’m looking forward to picking you up tonight, Angel. I wish I could see you sooner, though - being away from you for this long is killing me

You can’t help but smile at his words, as you’ve talked to him on FaceTime not too long ago. That doesn’t mean you’re not excited to see him, however, as it’s all you can think about. All you know is that he’ll wear a suit that will go perfectly with your dress, but he hasn’t let loose about what color it will be. Thankfully, you don’t have to wait that long anymore, as both Tony and Bruce will pick you and Natasha up in less than four hours.

“What do you think?” you ask Natasha when you’ve gotten fully dressed, and you’re showing off the finished ensemble.

“I think that he needs to pick up his jaw from the floor when he sees you. You’re beautiful, Detka, and Tony is very lucky to have such a hot piece of arm candy for the night,” she says as she puts the finishing touches on her own hair. You don’t get the chance to answer her, however, as you hear a knock on the door before you get the chance. You rush over to the door, and you’re met with a sight for sore eyes.

Tony is holding a bouquet of white tulips as he smiles widely, his gaze roaming over your figure as you’re standing in front of him. The necklace with the little ‘T’ on it is highlighting your neck perfectly, and the dress hugs your body in all the right places, making you feel like the angel Tony always tells you that you are.

“Hi,” is all you can say as you take the flowers from him, your mind having gone blank at the sight of Tony in a perfectly tailored black suit, though the tie is made of the exact same fabric of your dress. His hair is messy in his own perfect way, and he opted to wear a set of dark-rimmed glasses to finish off his look. While Tony always looks handsome in his casual looks, he looks downright stunning in his suit, and you can’t get enough of the sight.

You quickly put the tulips in a vase before heading out the door, followed by Bruce and Natasha who had their moment of greeting, too. The Uber Tony ordered is waiting for you downstairs, and like a true gentleman he opens the door for you, allowing you and Natasha to get seated first, followed by himself and Bruce, and the night is officially off to an amazing start as you’re looking around the car, admiring the friendships you’ve built with all of them over time.

While the night is started off with some drinks and laughter, it quickly changes to seeing who can do the weirdest dance moves, only for the music to turn from an upbeat dance number to a slower song, and Tony holds out his hand for you as an invite to join him on the dancefloor. You happily take it, allowing him to guide you towards the dancefloor and take the lead in your slow dance.

Your body is pressed against his as your hands are on his chest, and his long fingers gently dig into your hips as you’re swaying back and forth. He looks at you with love in his eyes and a small smile on his face, and pink cheeks from the warmth in the room.

“I love you,” you tell him, and his smile immediately widens. He’ll never get enough of hearing those words from you.

“I love you too, Angel. Thank you for showing me what true love is like, and for being my date tonight. I’m happy to be able to share these moments with you instead of with Bruce as we’re sitting down the entire time as he’s unable to stop talking about Natasha.”

Right on cue, you meet your best friend’s gaze as she dances with her boyfriend, and she winks at you before looking back at Bruce. Tony leans down when you’re facing him again, but instead of placing a kiss on your lips like you thought he would do, he presses one to the top of your nose, catching you off-guard in the best way possible.

“What did you do that for?!” You ask playfully, and he shrugs while blushing even harder, making you want to return the favor. And you do exactly that, making him smile widely as you place a kiss on the tip of his nose, too. And just like that, a tradition is born.

“What do you say about heading back to the dorm, huh?” Tony whispers in your ear while dancing, the night coming to an end as more and more people are heading back to their dorms or to continue the party in one of the many nearby bars. Your head was resting against his shoulder as you swayed back and forth, but his words immediately set your entire body on fire, knowing exactly what he’s asking of you.

“I think that’s exactly what we should do,” you tell him as your fingers glide into the hair on the nape of his neck, your lips meeting him in a passionate exchange. The night you’ve been looking forward to for a long time is finally here – after tonight you’re not going to be a virgin anymore, as you will give yourself fully to the man you love.

Looking back on it, there’s not a single moment you remember from the way back to the dorm, as you and Tony haven’t been able to let go of one another for a single moment, constantly touching, kissing, whispering sweet nothings. You were both everywhere at once, and your mind has gone blank soon after getting into the Uber, and all you remember is Tony pulling you onto his lap, where you could feel all of him.

As soon as the door shuts behind you, Tony pushes you against it as he cups your cheeks with both hands, ensuring he can meet your gaze properly. Your chest rises and falls quickly as you’re attempting to catch your breath, but it’s difficult when he keeps stealing the air from them every few moments by pressing his lips hungrily against yours. Your dress quickly finds its way to the floor, leaving you in nothing but your heels, the white lingerie and the necklace, making Tony groan at the possessiveness of you wearing his initials.

“Did you buy this for me, Angel?” he whispers, his voice rough as he takes a step back, admiring the lace against your skin. Your nipples pebble at the attention he’s giving you, and you nod in response as you turn around in your spot, showing him the rest of the lacey fabric as it hugs your curves.

“It’s too bad I won’t be able to enjoy it for much longer,” he says hungrily which sets your cheeks on fire, and his words are followed by him sinking onto his knees so his face is at the same level as your dripping, clenching pussy. You’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, and now that it’s finally here, you’re just as hungry for it as he is. He looks up at you with a questioning look, not moving another inch without your permission.

“I- I’m burning for you, Tony, I do-,” is all you can say before he lets his fingers glide over your thighs, the roughness of his fingertips making your head reel at the feeling of them against your thighs. He gently grabs your calf before lifting it and hooking your leg over his shoulder, giving him the perfect view of your thoroughly ruined panties. He reaches up to let his thumb glide over the fabric covering you, making you moan loudly as he finds your sensitive clit.

He smirks as he looks up at you through his lashes, though your eyes are closed as your head has fallen against the door. Tony leans in before letting his tongue follow the same path his finger just did, a groan escaping his chest at the first taste of you, immediately making him want more. Before you know it, the fabric is slipped to the side and his tongue has found your clit, making you roll your hips to meet his pace.

“Oh god- I’m close-” you say as you lace your fingers in his hair, pulling him impossibly closer to you in the process. Tony keeps alternating between sucking and licking, and you’re surprised when he gently works one of his fingers into your clenching pussy, and that ultimately leads to you falling apart. Your first orgasm brought on by your boyfriend is nothing short of amazing as he takes his time to work you through it, his own cock straining painfully against the zipper of his pants.

“Kiss me.” It’s all you can say after screaming his name for the past few minutes, and he obliges by gently pulling your leg off his shoulder and rising to his full height, giving you goosebumps as you see the height difference between the two of you. His lips instantly find yours and you moan at the taste of yourself on his tongue, and it adds to the hotness of the moment as you pull him closer against you, not a single inch of space between you two.

“Let’s lie down for a moment, Angel,” Tony says as he gently coaxed you towards your bed, and you let yourself fall on it with a thud before he rearranges your body in an effortless manner, making your heart beat faster as your entire body feels like it’s set on fire. Your boyfriend takes the time to undress himself before you, making a show of it as you drink in every inch of his beautiful body, every ridge, muscle and freckle being uncovered.

Then, it’s finally time for him to join you in bed, and you get comfortable against his side as you try to gather the courage to say what’s on your mind. He notices something’s going on, and he tucks a piece of hair behind your hair before placing a kiss on your forehead.

“A penny for your thoughts?” he asks, making you smile before looking up at him with a deep breath.

“I- I want to make you feel good, too,” you admit shyly as you let your fingers glide through his happy trail, a small smile on your lips as you look up at your boyfriend. His cheeks are still tinted pink from the effort he went through to bring you to your high, but his eyes are displaying a curious look.

“Well, I wouldn’t say no to that, Angel,” he tells you, his lips finding yours effortlessly as he bends down to capture them. You can still taste yourself on his tongue as you get lost in the kiss, a soft groan audible as your fingers slip underneath the band of his boxers, ready to give him the same treatment as he has given you not too long ago. When you pull away, his lips are swollen and red, matching the color of his cheeks, and he gasps audibly when your fingers wrap around his cock.

“You’re so big,” you whisper as you pull your gaze down to the outline of his cock in his underwear, where your hand is holding him to get used to the feeling. The hardness of it, combined with the soft skin and the texture of the veins make for an odd experience, but you’re soon used to the feeling, even daring to work your hand up and down a few times. The friction of his boxers against his sensitive, soft tip have him clutching the sheets, his chest rising and falling quickly.

Without saying anything, you move to kneel between his legs, his boxers now showing the perfect outline of his length, a wet spot of pre-cum staining it on the top right. You can’t wait much longer and you gently pull down the fabric that’s keeping you from your main goal, and you’re not disappointed in the slightest. His cock is long and thick, and light blue veins run across the flesh towards his red, leaking tip. His skin is soft when you touch it again, your fingertips grazing over the sensitive veins.

“A-Angel,” his voice is teetering on the edge of begging, as he wants nothing more than the pleasure you’re about to give him. He’s a patient man, but when he’s this close to having your mouth wrapped around him, it’s impossible not to get impatient, though he wouldn’t push you past what you’re comfortable with. He’s told you before that he’s allowing you to set the pace of the evening, and he’s sticking to his word.

“You’re being such a good boy for me,” you say as you play with his balls, which earns you a loud moan of your name, his hands digging into the sheets even further. His back arches as you let your free hand wrap around his length, the feeling of your hands nearly being too much. He’s been waiting for this moment for a long time, and he’s not sure how long he’ll last if you keep going like this.

You move forward to lick a stripe all along the length of his cock, followed by you gently sucking on his soft tip while you keep playing with his balls, and it earns you exactly the reaction you’re hoping for. His hips roll in response to your moves, his cock nudging deeper into your mouth as he does. He knows he’s not going to last long, but you don’t mind as you double your efforts, earning yourself a loud moan of your name as his cock spills every last drop of cum into your mouth.

When you’ve worked him through his orgasm and he’s gone entirely soft - even like this he’s still very impressive when it comes to length - you climb over his sweat-adorned body to kiss him again, giving him a nice surprise when he learns you didn’t swallow, instead fulfilling one of his fantasies by allowing him to kiss you right after he came in your mouth. It’s been one of his dirtiest fantasies about you, but one you’re more than happy to oblige in.

“How’re you feeling?” he asks as he looks you over, his hands rubbing your skin lovingly.

“Good. Different, but not in a bad way,” you say with a satisfied smile, and Tony hums in response, his own mouth curling into a smile, too. The air between the two of you has shifted in a positive way, the trust between you and him even stronger now that you’ve seen each other in such vulnerable states.

“Good,” he whispers as you tuck your face into his neck, the closeness being something you crave after everything that just happened. His fingers draw abstract figures on your back as you get some rest, your mind still feeling very fuzzy after everything that’s happened so far.

When you wake up, Tony is more than happy to see your eyes again, as they’re one of his favorite things about you, and he smiles at you before flipping you over without warning. You shriek in excitement, and when he covers you entirely, his size kink is going wild for a moment, his cock pulsing in excitement at the sight of you like this underneath him.

“Are you ready for more, Angel?” he asks, and you nod quickly, lust coursing through every inch of you.

“Let me grab a condom-” Tony says as he leans over towards the nightstand, but before he can grab the handle, you wrap your hand around his wrist, stopping him in his tracks. He immediately looks over at you with worry in his eyes, your cheeks heating under his intense gaze. Your entire body feels like it’s on fire each time he looks at you, but now there’s a pang in your chest that makes you feel bad about stopping him in his tracks like this.

“You don’t- I mean, we don’t have to use one, Tony. I’m on birth control, and I want to feel you, all of you tonight. There’s no one else in this lifetime for me, and there’s no one I trust more than you. Unless you want to use one, of course,” you say to reassure him. It takes a moment for it to process in his mind, but his mouth curls into a smirk when he realizes what you’ve just asked from him. You want him to slide in bare for the first time, and he’s not saying no to an opportunity like that.

A hint of mischief is visible in his eyes as he repositions himself so that he’s above you, leaning on his elbows and his lips close to yours. All it would take is the closing of the few inches between you two to feel his lips on yours again, and it’s very tempting as your eyes flit to his lips and back to his dark brown eyes. 

“Non c'è niente che desidero di più che sentirti nudo, Angel. The warmth of sweet pussy welcoming me as I slide in gently, taking my time as I stretch you with my thick, long cock. I want to feel her soak my entire length as you’re taking inch after inch, after inch. And then, as my cock is so deep in your sweet pussy that there’s nowhere for my cum to go other than inside you, I can feel your walls clenching as she tries to pull me even deeper. That’s exactly what you want, isn’t it? To have me fill you up with my cum until it’s leaking out around my cock, and making a mess between our bodies?”

You swallow around a lump in your throat as your pussy pulses from his words, excitement running through your entire body as your nipples pebble, too. His closeness is intoxicating in the best way possible, but you need him even closer. You need him deep inside you for as long as you can, and you’ll never let him go when he’s in. He will be yours, and you will be his. For the end of time, in this lifetime and all the ones after this one.

“Please,” you say softly, your voice low as lust is taking over once more. Your throat is also a little raw from how deep you took him mere moments ago, and your lips are still swollen from the countless stolen kisses. Tony lets out a deep breath before shifting on one arm so he can grab your jaw gently, his thumb running over the edge of it as he tilts your head back.

“Your wish is my command, Angel,” he whispers in a deep tone before leaning down and kissing your neck, a needy moan slipping from your lips as he does and he slips his thumb in your mouth as a response. Your fingers dig into his biceps as he takes his time marking your collarbone and chest, aware to not put them too high as you still need to be able to cover them. One day, you’ll proudly wear his marks without a second thought, but now you still have to be careful. Each mark Tony leaves has you clenching around nothing as his thick thighs are keeping your legs spread, his cock nudging at your entrance with every move he makes. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and it’s nearly driving you insane.

When Tony is finally satisfied with the marks he has left - most of them placed neatly on your chest and breasts - he lets you go, his thumb slipping from your mouth with a loud pop. His cheeks are bright red when he’s done and his heart feels like it’s about to leap out of his chest as he looks at the marks he’s left, and you’ve rarely been more beautiful to him.

“You’re such a good girl for me,” he says before kissing you again, his tongue easily winning the fight for dominance as you give yourself over to him. His hand slides between your bodies before wrapping around his length, a groan leaving his lips as he looks down to where he’s lining himself up.

“Take a deep breath for me, Angel. I promise I’ll go slow, but if it’s too much, you can always tell me, okay?” he asks, and you nod reassuringly, and you smile at him with a content look. After a few more seconds, Tony pushes in for the first time, your eyes going wide at the intrusion of his cock, as it’s very different from his fingers, no matter how much he took his time stretching you earlier.

“How’re you feeling?” he immediately asks, and you take a few deep breaths before answering. While your body is very stiff when he first slides in, you can feel yourself relax under him, and your breathing slows down as well.

“Good, Tony. I promise that I’m feeling good,” you reassure him, and he nods, his own heart rate and breathing slowing down, too. He takes his time to work every last inch of himself into you, constantly checking in and giving countless kisses, too, which helps you relax even further. The feeling of his cock inside you, the stimulation from his veins and the love he’s showing you has you on cloud nine, and you’re happy to have waited for the right man.

“Hmm, fuck- I do- I need you so badly, Angel. I need you so badly,” Tony groans as he bottoms out, his words slurring together as his brain is focused on one thing only: your pussy greedily pulling him in further and further. Your fingernails dig into his shoulder as he bottoms out, a loud moan escaping your lips as your eyes roll back in your head from the pleasure he’s giving you.

“That’s it, taking me so beautifully. You’re taking all of me so well,” he praises you, setting your cheeks on fire once more before you give him the go-ahead to start making you feel good.

“S so soft and warm, I never want to leave your pussy. ‘s pure heaven,” he whispers between slow rolls of his hips, your body working in tandem with his as he presses his forehead against yours, making the moment even more intimate than it already was.

“Un giorno ti sposerò e ti darò tutti i miei bambini, il mio amore,” Tony groans, the thought of you carrying his babies being one he can’t get out of his head as he slowly picks up the pace. It all feels very natural as you’re unsure where one person ends and the other begins, your bodies moving in sync as your highs are quickly building once again. While Tony keeps saying things in Italian – which only adds to your arousal – you can’t stop saying his name like a chant.

“Tony- Tony, please! ‘m close-”

“It’s okay, Angel. Let go for me, cum all over my cock and I’ll give you every last drop of my cum,” Tony pants as the bed creaks loudly, though neither one of you cares about who can hear. Right now, there’s nothing but you and Tony in your little bubble of happiness and pleasure. It only takes a few more thrusts and your nails raking down Tony’s back before you’re falling over the edge, immediately followed by Tony as he works you both through your orgasms.

“Ti amo,” you whisper as you look at him with pure love, and he whispers it right back at you before capturing your lips once more. The rest of the night is spent in each other’s arms as you’re enjoying the post-sex haze together. In the bath, where you’re feeding each other chocolate covered strawberries, or in bed where you’re more than happy to be cuddled to sleep by your boyfriend.

“Thank you for making tonight special, Tony. I’m glad to have you be my first,” you tell him, your fingers gliding over the coarse hair of his chest.

“And I’m glad to have you be my last, Angel. I’m never letting you go,” he tells you, and you agree before falling into a blissful sleep in Tony’s arms.

“How’re you feeling about meeting my parents today, Angel?” Tony asks as he stands behind you to zip up the dress you’ve chosen to wear as today will be your first meeting with Howard and Maria. It’s a blue dress that compliments your skin tone beautifully - courtesy of Tony who picked it out as a present for today - and Tony is wearing a shirt that matches in color, making you smile as you look in the mirror.

“Nervous, but overall excited. After everything you’ve told me about them, I think they’ll be nothing short of amazing. Especially seeing how well they raised you, as you’ve turned out like the perfect gentleman.” Thoughts of last night and how sweet he was with you during your shared first time are still swirling in your mind as you meet his gaze in the mirror, his cheeks flushed as you smile widely.

“I’m excited, too. I have a feeling they’ll love you almost as much as I do.” Without another word he grabs your hairbrush, letting it glide through your soft locks as he’s brushing your hair, getting it ready for you to turn it into a simple but beautiful hairstyle, as you prefer keeping your hair in a ponytail or a bun when possible.

When he’s done, he places the brush down before gently laying his hands on your waist to still be close to you, as he prefers not leaving your side right now. As soon as you’re done, you turn around to pull him into a kiss, your lips moving with his as if they;re made for one another, passion being poured into every passing second. Neither of you can get enough of one another, and if it were up to you, you’d spend another day in bed, but instead you have exciting plans to attend to.

“Let’s go, otherwise we’ll be late,” Tony whispers against your lips, and after a few more pecks you let him go, though you already miss him the second he steps back to head to his parents. The drive to their house is beautiful as the sun is shining and the music is blasting through the speakers, the roof of Tony’s convertible being down means you’re able to soak up even more of this beautiful day. His hand is gently squeezing your thigh as he looks at the road, a content smile on his face. If life is going to be like this from now on, he’s even happier to be spending it with you.

As soon as Tony’s family home comes into view, you let out a soft gasp at the beauty of it, as the rays of sun make it look almost iridescent as they shine on the white exterior. You’re not sure where to look as you’re getting closer, as the garden is also breathtaking, and you’re looking forward to seeing it all. And then, right when Tony parks his car, the two owners of it walk out to greet you both, huge smiles on their faces as they see you two.

“Welcome home, Angel,” Tony says before getting out of the car and rushing over to your side so he can open the door, a quick greeting being exchanged before he opens it. The next few moments go by in a blur, as you’re quickly being pulled into a hug by Maria, her arms tight around you as her floral perfume makes you think of home. Her warmth and happiness make you smile as you say hi to her, and she hums in response.

“Welcome to our home,” she says, her Italian accent shining through as she does. Tony has told you before how the two of them met while Howard was vacationing in Italy, and their summer romance turned into the rest of their lives as she moved to the United States to pursue their love. Now, they’re happily retired and enjoying life together, and you can’t wait to live a similar life with Tony when you’re older.

“È un onore incontrarti, Maria,” you say after she let you go, and her eyes go wide as she hears you speaking Italian. Even if it’s not perfect, she’s still extremely grateful for it, as it shows her that you’ve put some tremendous effort into it before coming here. She gives you a loving smile before grabbing your hands, squeezing them gently.

“The honor is all ours, Tesoro,” she whispers, and when you look at Tony you see he’s looking at you with wide eyes, as he didn’t know you’ve been studying to speak Italian, even if it’s only a few sentences. His heart is about to leap out of his chest from happiness, pride visible on his face as he kisses you on your cheek before whispering an ‘I love you so much,’ in your ear. He learns new things about you every day, and this was certainly one of the best things he has ever experienced with you.

Then, as Tony lets you go in order to get a big hug from his mom, Howard pulls you in for a hug as well, welcoming you to their home as well.

“Thank you for the invite, Mr. Stark-”

“Oh please, you can call me Howard! You’re part of the family, so there’s no need for those formalities!” he says as his hands are on your shoulders, his eyes bright with excitement as he says the word ‘family’. After everything Tony has been through in his past relationships, Howard couldn’t be happier with someone like you by his son’s side, as he wishes nothing but love for him.

“Well, thank you, Howard. I really appreciate the two of you opening up your home to me,” you say, and then it’s finally time to head inside. Their house is like a slice of Italy in New York, which combined with the countless photos of Tony from his baby years all the way to now, makes it feel like home. In the kitchen, Maria was working on preparing lots of little Italian snacks and dishes to enjoy, while Tony and Howard led you to the large garden.

You’re unsure where to look first, as you want to see it all, though that is quickly taken care of when Tony interlaces his fingers with yours in order to show you around. There are countless flowers blooming, making their garden look like paradise as you walk over the footpath. Tony recalls many memories, and when you’re both out of sight, he pulls you close to him.

Without saying another word, he cups your cheeks as his thumbs rub over your cheekbones, sending a shiver down your spine as he looks at you.

“How’re you feeling? Are you enjoying yourself?” His voice is soft and filled with love, and you nod as your cheeks heat under his touch. Last night, something inside you both changed for the better, as you’re even more in love now. Last night you shared one of many firsts together, and it’s only the beginning of the rest of your lives together.

“It’s so fun to be here! Seeing where you grew up and hearing all the stories fill me with so much happiness that it feels like I might burst soon! And your parents are a true delight, as well. You’re very lucky to have grown up with them. I actually see a lot of them in you as well, and it makes you adorable,” you tell him, which makes Tony’s cheeks heat up adorably.

“You are adorable, Angel,” he says before capturing your lips with his, the kiss soft and loving as you both take your time to enjoy the moment. The birds are chirping all around you, and the sun shines down on your both, adding to the warmth of the moment.

“I love you,” you whisper before giving him a last kiss on his cheek and grabbing his hand again, wanting to go back and hear all the stories that Howard and Maria could possibly share about Tony when he grew up. The rest of the day is spent with lots of laughter, many stories of Tony from his childhood and teenage years, and of course the amazing food Maria has made. But then, you get the one question you didn’t expect to hear today,

“So, how did you two enjoy yourselves last night?” The tone with which Maria says it lets you know she knows exactly what has happened between you two, and right on cue, both Tony and yourself turn redder than a tomato. x

That night, after saying goodbye to Howard and Maria, you and Tony drive back in silence as you’re thinking about the day you just had. And it’s official: this is the family you’re happy to marry into one day. They’ve shown you nothing but love today, and you’re even more excited to share your life with him. This day has changed everything, and you’ve never felt more welcome in your life, all thanks to your future father- and mother in law.

[mostly-marvel-musings]

Caffeine fix and beyond - Part 1

A/N: Did I come up with the worst fic title? Lmao. This is for @elixirfromthestars thank you for hosting the cutest writing challenge ever!

Sitting at the Coffee shop AU table, with some sweet treats - “I’m only doing it because you’re cute.”, “Why don’t you tell me what I can do to make your day better?” & Saying ‘I love you’ for the first time.

Find the writing challenge here ☕️

Pairing: Tony Stark x F! Reader

Warning: fluff! One bad coffee pun.

Word count: 2.2k

Tony Stark Masterlist

.

“Oh look! It’s my favourite superhero!” you exclaimed, giving the man before you a big grin as he mirrored your action.

“And it’s my favourite barista.”

Tony Stark lowered his sunglasses to greet you, shoving them in his pocket before ordering his usual cup of coffee to go.

Happy Hogan, his head of security or the guy who handed him things - as you formerly knew him, was missing today. That was a first. You got to know about his eccentric habits over the course of time, something which you initially found snooty and borderline narcissistic.

It was a sunny day in New York when the genius billionaire walked into your cafe with a caffeine urge to subdue and an air of indifference. He had cut through the line much to your annoyance but the people waiting didn’t seem to mind since it was the great Iron Man who’d just walked into your humble but prominent shop. After making him wait for a good fifteen minutes before giving him his fix, you were introduced to the man who had been observing you keenly from afar while you worked. As time passed, you got to know the man behind the titanium suit, the funniest, wittiest man you’d come across and a broken superhero you had grown fond of. It had come to a point where on days he wouldn’t show up, you would actually miss him.

“No Happy today?” you wondered out loud, raising your eyebrows when he held his hand out for the cup which you were about to place on the counter.

“He’s feeling under the weather. I’ll let him know you missed him.” he teased, taking a sip of the scalding hot beverage without flinching.

“Please do. You know how much I love him in his suit.” you grinned as Tony chuckled, waving goodbye as you watched the man head out.

“Might stop by later tonight, Y/N!” he called out without turning around, making a few heads turn your way before the superhero disappeared.

Shaking your head fondly, you went about your day, tending to the ever-growing line standing in front of you, all waiting for their favourite coffee.

.

While you rolled out the last of the cinnamon roll batch for the night, you heard the bell outside your door chime, knowing it wouldn’t be anybody other than the man who had quickly become one of your closest companions. He usually ended up in your cafe late at night for a chat, more often than not for a cup or three of his famous Stark brew - as you coined it.

“Are those cinnamon rolls I smell?”

You chuckled hearing his voice float through the empty cafe before the man appeared in the kitchen which was located behind the counter. Dressed in some faded jeans and a band t-shirt, he looked quite relaxed for someone you knew was running on four hours of sleep on a daily basis.

“Yes! Aren’t these a favourite of your best friend? James if I’m not wrong. Ask him to stop by tomorrow, will you?”

One of the things that you loved doing was teasing Tony Stark, the man was so easily annoyed, it was adorable.

“Yeah I’m starting to think you prefer my head of security and my best friend over my company, Y/N.” he narrowed his eyes at you, leaning against one of your work stations while snooping around for snacks.

“Finally you got the hint! You are as smart as they say, Stark.” you poked your tongue out, wiping your hands on your apron before handing him a bag of strawberries which he gratefully accepted.

“Alright, quit it.”

The two of you had quite the chemistry ever since you began talking, it always bordered on flirting and would more often than not lead to banter, something you thoroughly enjoyed and knew he secretly loved too. It had been a privilege getting to know the man behind the Iron persona. The man was generous and kind, he was sweet when he wanted to be and a stubborn prick when he pleased.

For a few moments he remained silent, watching you wrap the trays of cinnamon rolls in plastic before you transferred them to the fridge to prove overnight; he saw how meticulously you cleaned the kitchen before pouring a glass of white wine for yourself and perching yourself on the counter next to him.

“Not driving home?” he asked, concerned about how tired you looked, surely you were doing this for years and he had never seen you this exhausted. Maybe it was something other than your regular baking duties that were troubling you today.

“Car’s with the mechanic today, she’s giving me nothing but grief these days.” you sighed, rolling your shoulders to relieve some tension from your aching muscles. Some family drama aside, it had been a long, busy but fulfilling day.

“So, what ails you, dear child?” you joked, sipping on your wine. Tony would usually beg you to make him a cup of joe by now but tonight, he remained silent.

“Forget about me. Tell me about your day, Y/N.”

Tony rarely asked about this. His visits consisted of rants about technical jargon which you did not pretend to understand, they ended with him bragging about an invention or a girl he scored with the night before. You were more of a listener than a talker anyway, had been all your life, so it was like a natural fit. So this certainly came as a surprise to you.

“What?”

“I’m serious. I always yap about my day and you always listen. You seem upset about something and I want to know if you’re willing to share. You need a listener too.” he smiled one of those rare Tony Stark smiles that were reserved for special people in his life. It warmed your heart.

He waited patiently as you took another generous sip from your drink, his brown eyes boring into yours, his body angled towards you, letting you know you had his full attention.

“Well, my baby brother is thinking about quitting college. He says he wants to focus on his start-up. You know the one I told you about.”

He nodded, immediately recalling the day you had mentioned about your younger sibling being inclined towards artificial intelligence and expressing the desire to venture into it professionally one day.

“I don’t want him to be yet another disappointment to my parents, Tony. One sibling has had enough trauma to last a lifetime. I don’t want him to go through what I did.” you sighed, closing your eyes to make the stray tears that gathered disappear.

Sure your parents gave you the upbringing you deserved, but they would never miss a chance to show their disappointment in you after you had quit your well-paying job to open up your quaint little cafe. It had been a lifelong dream of yours that didn’t seem to fit in their ideal world. You were used to ignoring the little jabs and remarks but your brother was still young, and you wanted to protect him.

“Look, I know you still think of him as your baby brother, but he’s old enough to make his own decisions now, Y/N. And you never know, he might be really good, good enough for the heir of Stark Industries to want to meet him to discuss ideas.”

He knew you would never take advantage of the fact that you guys were close and he was willing to do whatever it took to make you feel better.

A lesser known fact was that Tony Stark was quite smitten by you. His best friend knew it, Happy knew it, probably the only person who didn’t know was you.

“Tony, it’s not necessary. You’re being too kind, I just–”

“Nuh-uh. It’s already decided. He will be okay, Y/N. Stop taking his responsibilities upon your delicate little shoulders.” Tony jumped down and placed his hands on your shoulders to give you a little massage. His fingers felt like heaven, making you melt against his touch instantly, you had to stop yourself from letting out a moan that threatened to escape.

“That feels amazing. Do you moonlight as a masseur?” you yawned sleepily, placing the glass away.

“Perhaps. The rest of my services are paid though. Come on.” Tony held out his hand for you and made you stand up.

“Come where? Where are we going?” you frowned, eyelids already growing heavy, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up.

“I’m going to walk you home. Have you eaten today?”

You hadn’t. The day had been busy enough and you wanted to finish the batch of cinnamon rolls for tomorrow, that had eventually led you to forget about dinner.

Meekly you shook your head, making him let out a dramatic sigh.

“What would you do without me, Y/N Y/L/N!”

If anything, Tony Stark would never fail to make you smile. He had a tendency to brighten up a dull day. You found yourself thinking just how much you’d miss him if he wasn’t in your life; not that you’d gather the courage to answer out loud.

He had looped your arm in his as you walked the ever busy streets of New York, grabbing a pizza on your way. This was a new side to him you were shown, one you were sure didn’t come out often.

As you unlocked your front door, you turned to the man beside you who stood fidgeting with the cardboard pizza box.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

Instead of answering, Tony leaned closer and wrapped his hand over yours on the door knob, his breath fanning your hair slightly causing your heart to flutter hopelessly. Ever so gently he twisted the knob and opened the door for you, his body heat still radiating near you, making you want to lean against that taut chest. If only you could…

He stepped in after you, observing your space with keen interest. Years of hardwork and savings had bought you this modestly sized apartment, right in the heart of New York. The space was a little cluttered but it had a homey vibe to it which matched you.

Placing the pizza box on the kitchen counter, you discarded your bag and asked the snarky superhero who was currently skimming over family photographs if he wanted a drink.

“You didn’t answer my question, Tony.” You said, handing him a glass of wine. This time he turned to face you, a small smile played on his lips as he took in your appearance. Hair messy from a long day of work, minimal make-up and the light in your eyes that drew him in from day one; to him, you were perfect.

“I’m only doing it because you are cute.”

He stated matter-of-factly, reaching for your free hand and letting his fingers entwine with yours. A small gesture that awakened a few thousand butterflies in your tummy.

“You’ve offered to help my brother, you bought me dinner, walked me home, and you didn’t try to sneak a cup of coffee today. All that because I’m cute huh?”

You teased, feeling just a little bolder as you took a step closer to him. It was now or never, you thought.

“Ask me what I’ve always wondered about.” He asked softly, still toying with your fingers which he’d now brought up to his chest. Something in your heart whispered he felt the same way.

“What have you always wondered about, Tony?” Your eyes dropped to his pillowy lips, unable to resist yourself from getting closer until you were only inches apart.

“I wonder why you won’t bake some blueberry muffins for me?”

It took a couple of seconds for you to process and snap out of it, when you did, Tony’s eyes were dancing with mirth. You shoved him away with a groan only for him to grab hold of your arms and pull you close.

“I’ve always wondered how I’ve grown so close to someone I only met a few months ago, I’ve always wondered how someone as beautiful and amazing as you would ever entertain a selfish prick like me..”

You were about to open your mouth to speak but were stopped when Tony placed a finger on your lips.

“I’ve also wondered what it’d be like to kiss you…” his soft murmur traveled down your spine in a delicious manner, making your breathing hitch as his doe eyes landed on your parted lips.

Taking initiative, you gently pressed your lips to his in a kiss that assured you your life wouldn’t be the same again. It was surprisingly tender, contrary to his boisterous persona, soft lips molded into yours in a perfect union making the surroundings disappear.

You smiled into the kiss when Tony let out a small whine, almost as if battling in his head whether to break the kiss or take things forward. You felt his grip on your hands move to your waist, holding you flush against his chest before he reluctantly broke the kiss, resting his forehead against yours, grinning.

“And?” You kept your voice soft, afraid to break the bubble you were in.

“I think I found my perfect blend.”

[elixirfromthestars]

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ Thank you for visiting my cafe! Sincerely, I am overwhelmed with the response I received with all those who participated. Whether it was reading, sharing, or writing thank you so much!!

When I first posted this challenge it was right when I came back from an unexpected hiatus. I was nervous no one would join, but I’ve been happily overwhelmed with all the love I received since then 🥹🤍 I’ve written some of my favorite pieces and made some of the most lovely mutuals 😭🤎🤎From the bottom of my heart thank you to everyone!! 🤍 My goal was to interact with the community again and it’s lovely to say I achieved that 🫶🏼✨

Happy reading everyone! ˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ @humanwip is serving some fluffy Barista!Bucky Barnes paired with Nurse!Reader

Casual Coffee? $2.4k

contains: coffee shop au + "why don’t you tell me what I can do to make you feel better?"

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ @mostly-marvel-musings is serving a two course fluffy Tony Stark paired with coffee shop owner Reader

Caffeine Fix & Beyond - Part II $4.6k

contains: coffee shop au +  “i'm only doing it because you’re cute.” + “why don’t you tell me what I can do to make your day better?” + saying ‘I love you’ for the first time. 

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ @nekoannie-chan is serving some fluffy Steve Rogers paired with Soulmate!Reader

What More Do I Need? $267

contains: soulmate au + what else do I need when I have my whole world in my arms?

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ @nicoline1998enilocin is serving two fluffy Tony Stark fics: a Childhood Bestfriend!Tony and a College Student!Tony

Sprinkles of Romance $6.8k

contains: coffee shop au + bakery au + saying I love you for the first time + “would it be alright if I borrowed your sweater? it smells like you.” + “i’m only doing it because you’re cute.” + “i’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice.” - “I’ve tried to forbid myself from falling in love, but now I can’t help it.” - “and when I felt like I was an old cardigan, under someone's bed. you put me on and said I was your favorite.”

The Only One For Me $7.5k

contains: college au + saying I love you for the first time + i'm only doing it because you're cute + could you hold my hand? + “make me fantasize, 'bout you baby. And you smell so sweet, like fresh-picked daisies.”

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ @thevillainswhore is serving some fluffy Lumberjack!Bucky Barnes paired with Wife!Reader

A Balm To The Heart $1.2k

contains: “I like hearing your heart beating when I put my head on your chest.”

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ @buck-star is serving some fluffy College Football Captain Bucky Barnes paired with College!Reader

Summer of Love $11.1k

contains: college au + saying ‘I love you’ for the first time

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ @anika-ann is serving some fluffy Steve Rogers paired with Roommate!Reader

Caught $8.2k

contains: “why don’t you tell me what I can do to make your day better?” 

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ @marvelstoriesepic is serving some fluffy Barista!Bucky Barnes paired with Coworker!Reader

Latte He(art) $7.8k

contains: “so we’re swapping our cups, and after a while, we’re swapping a glance. And I can think nothing better than starting the year with a drop of romance.”

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ @vintagebuckybarnes is serving some fluffy College Student Boyfriend!Bucky Barnes paired with College Student Partner!Reader

Pumpkin Spice And Everything Nice $2.2k

contains: college au + “no, I’m not letting you go. It’s too early to get out of bed.” + “what else do I need if I have my whole world in my arms?” + “I like hearing your heart beating when I put my head on your chest.”

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ @starsoverbrooklyn is serving some fluff to angst 1940s Post-War!Bucky Barnes paired with a Baker!Reader

Fleeting Augustine $2.2k

contains: bakery au + inspiration from august by taylor swift

My cafe is always open to those who need it. As I mentioned before, if you come across my writing challenge post and get inspired, sincerely, do not hesitate to tag me and I will read it + add it to the masterlist! Or if you couldn't make the deadline please do not get discouraged and post it when you can. I would be delighted to read it so please tag me!! ♡ ♡ ♡

graphics & coffee dividers made by me // coffee bean divider can be found here ☕️🤎

[nekoannie-chan]

What more do I need?

What more do I need?

Title: What more do I need?

Fandom: Marvel, Captain America.

Ship: Steve Rogers X Reader.

Word count: 267 words.

Rating: Teen.

Summary: Steve found his soulmate.

Major Tags: Fluff.

Additional tags: This is my entry for the @elixirfromthestars WELCOME TO MY CAFE! Writing Challenge with the prompt:

“Soulmate AU”

“What else do I need when I have my whole world in my arms?”

Links: Wattpad, Ao3, Spanish version.

@saiyanprincessswanie

My native language is Spanish so I wanna improve my writing skills in English if you notice any mistakes, please let me know and I will correct them.

I don’t give any permission for my fics to be posted on other platforms or languages (I translate my work myself) or the use of my graphics (my dividers are included in this), I did them exclusively for my fics, please respect my work and don't steal it. There are some people here who make dividers that anyone can use, mine is not this type, please look for the other people. The only exception is the ones I gifted 'cuz now belong to someone else. Please let me know if you find any of my works on a different platform and are not one of my accounts. Reblogs and comments are always welcome.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Marvel's characters (unfortunately), except for the original characters and the story.

Add yourself to my taglist here.

My other media where I publish:  Ao3, Wattpad, ffnet, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter. 

If you like it, please vote, comment, and give me feedback to improve my skills and reblog.

Tags: @sinceimetyou @unnuevosoltransformalarealidad @navybrat817 @angrythingstarlight @shield-agent78 @charmed-asylum @pandaxnienke @real-fbi @Smokeandnailz @white-wolf1940 @tenaciousperfectionunknown @xoxonotme @bluemusickid @leyannrae @Harrysthiccthighss @Marvelatthisone @caplanbuckybarnes @sapphire-rogers @lizzieolseniskinda @notyourtypicalrose @hallecarey1 @nana1000night @talia-rumlow @writingshae @alexxavicry @azulatodoryuga @daemonslittlebitch @chaoticcollectivenightmare @endlesstwanted @chemtrails-club  @marigoldreamer @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @Here4thefanfics @theestorm @patzammit @kmc1989 @somegirlfromasgard @rogersbarber

Ever since you were a little girl, you had always dreamed of the day when your brand would shine, revealing the identity of your soul mate. You spent years imagining what your soul mate would look like.

A mission had taken you to New York, where you were part of a small team of agents. However, one night there was an unexpected confrontation, for a moment you thought you were going to be defeated until suddenly Steve appeared, saving you.

Steve helped you up, and when his hand touched yours, you felt a warmth on your wrist. You looked down and, to your amazement, the mark on your skin glowed brightly.

Steve noticed it too, and when he lifted his wrist, you saw that the mark on his skin also glowed. The world seemed to stop for a moment, you didn't know what to say.

“You...?” you began, not knowing how to continue.

 From that moment on you began to spend more time together.

“Did you ever imagine it would be like this?” you asked, breaking the silence.

“I never thought much about it. I've lived so long... out of my time, that I came to accept that some things just weren't meant for me, but now, I realize that I was wrong. That fate, or whatever, had a plan for me. And that plan was you.”

“How can you be so sure?

“Because what more do I need when I have my whole world in my arms?" Steve took your hand.

You embraced it, in Steve's arms, you felt like you had finally found your place.

[elixirfromthestars]

WELCOME TO MY CAFE! ˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡

I miss interacting with fellow writers and readers, so I decided to host my own little writing challenge ♡ Between juggling grad school prep and an internship, I wanted to do something to keep me connected to this lovely community, so welcome everyone to my cozy little cafe :) 

The writing challenge starts today and closes on September 29th (National Coffee Day). I will be reading + reblogging every fic. The masterlist will be posted at the end. (if you see this anytime later or can’t make the deadline do not fret, if anything below inspires you, you are welcome to write and tag me and I will add your submission to the masterlist♡)

Below are the rules, prompts, and guidelines ♡

who you can write for: all marvel characters are welcome / any fictional sebastian stan or chris evans characters are welcome too (any characters they’ve portrayed based on real life people will not be accepted though!!) (please keep it to x reader fics only!!)

some general guidelines: Below I’ve provided a number of different prompts and songs for inspiration ♡ Anyone can use them and mix and match however you’d like!! If you use any please let me know somewhere in the post! If none of them below inspire you, to stay within theme please include either a cafe or coffee somewhere in the fic :) 18+ fics are welcome, just please add warnings! Any length of fics are welcome, but if it’s over 500 words please add the “keep reading” option. If you write something as part of a bigger series please write your submission as a standalone ♡

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ This is a sweet and cozy little cafe, but of course, there is always a possibility of rain. If anything below inspires an angsty fic, then by all means go ahead and write it! Your submission does not have to include fluff! 

what is not accepted: no dark fics, anything involving minors, incest, rape, noncon/dubcon 

how to enter: please tag me and use #elixirscafe when you post ♡ i’ll leave a like to let you know I saw it and reblog it once I read it :) if i haven’t responded to your post send me an inbox or dm please and thank you! 

Happy writing! My inbox is always open for any questions or comments!! ♡  

What table are you sitting at? 

♡ Coffeeshop AU 

♡ Soulmate AU 

♡ Bakery AU 

♡ Regency Era AU 

♡ Western AU

♡ Neighbor AU 

♡ Pen Pal AU

♡ Small Town AU 

♡ Royal AU

♡ College AU

Would you like a sweet treat?

🍩 ༄ؘ “No, I’m not letting you go. It’s too early to get out of bed.” 

🍰 ༄ؘ Saying I love you for the first time.

🍪 ༄ؘ “ Would it be alright if I borrowed your sweater? It smells like you.” 

🍫 ༄ؘ  “ You...you learned how to cook my favorite meal?”

🧁 ༄ؘ “ I’m not going to get sick, you baby. Just let me hold you.” 

🥧 ༄ؘ  “ What else do I need when I have my whole world in my arms?”

🍮 ༄ؘ “ I’m only doing it because you’re cute.” 

🥯 ༄ؘ “ Could you hold my hand?” 

🥞 ༄ؘ “ I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice.” 

🍞 ༄ؘ “ I like hearing your heart beating when I put my head on your chest.” 

🍯  ༄ؘ “ Why don’t you tell me what I can do to make your day better?” 

🥐 ༄ؘ “ I’ve tried to forbid myself from falling in love, but now I can’t help it.”

Do you like the music in the cafe? Which song should I play next?

˖°.₊˚☕⊹♡ Feel free to use the lyrics below, the entire feel of the song, or any other lyrics in the song! The playlist is below in case you want to go through and listen to the songs while you write ♡

Apple Cider “ And I don’t even like you that much. Wait, I do, fuck. Call me at midnight. Let’s give this a try.” Beabadoobee

Apple Juice “ Don’t let goodbyes come too easy. Love me, just let me know that you need me.” Jessie Reyez

Apple Pie “I found you under an April sky, and you feel like city life, apple pie baked just right. Home is wherever you are tonight.” Lizzy McAlpine

August “ And I can see us twisted in bedsheets. August slipped away like a bottle of wine.’Cause you were never mine.” Taylor Swift

Bubble Gum “ Sorry I didn’t kiss you, but it’s obvious I wanted to.” Clairo

Caramel “ Love like a landslide, I kiss you goodnight. It used to be easy.” 5SOS

Cardigan “And when I felt like I was an old cardigan, under someone's bed. You put me on and said I was your favorite.” Taylor Swift

Chai Tea “ I love sippin’ chai tea, with you across from me. I love hearing your voice, talkin ‘bout nothing.” Audrey

Champagne Problems “ You had a speech, you’re speechless. Love slipped beyond your reaches, and I couldn’t give a reason.” Taylor Swift

Chocolate “ I need more time off with you to turn you on. And I want to wake up without the alarm. A thousand eyes on me constantly, but I just want you.” Ziggy Alberts

Cinnamon “ It’s a slow cinnamon summer. Your spell is pulling me under. Rowing in a wooded hollow. Showing me the moves to follow.” Jome

Coffee Breath “ Make me fantasize,'bout you baby. And you smell so sweet, like fresh-picked daisies.” Sofia Mills 

Coffee Cup “ So we’re swapping our cups, and after a while, we’re swapping a glance. And I can think nothing better than starting the year with a drop of romance.” Anthony Lazaro

Espresso “ Now he’s thinkin’ ‘bout me every night, oh. Is it that sweet? I guess so. Say you can’t sleep, baby, I know. That’s that me espresso.” Sabrina Carpenter

Grapejuice “ I was on my way to buy some flowers for you. Thought that we could hide away in a corner of the heath. There’s never been someone who’s so perfect for me.” Harry Styles

Honey + Tea “Girls like flowers, clever poetry. That old adage doesn't work on me, but conversation and a cup of tea. Boy, you had me at philosophy.” Mōzi

Milk & Honey “ So come meet me in the garden, where the angels sing. We’re mixing up milk and honey, soft lips divine. Slow cherry and lay me down, oh, she’s coming to set me free.” Jessarae

Pancakes for Dinner “ I’ll try to hide the way I feel, but I’ll just wanna shout. What do I have to lose right now?” Lizzy McAlpine

Thin Mints “ If you let me lova ya like I wanna, write you all the poems like Whitman. You can take my Thin Mints, if you let me love ya like I wanna.” Evan Crommett

Too Sweet “ I think I’ll take my whiskey neat. My coffee black and my bed at three. You’re too sweet for me.” Hozier

playlist for the songs above can be found here: 🧸

to my lovely mutuals, please don’t feel pressured to participate or share, just thought I’d share this with you all ♡  

@peteyprecious616 ♡ @malum-forev ♡ @rosepetalsinwinter ♡ @inkedreverie ♡ @nickfowlerrr ♡ @missraion ♡ @pocolottie​ ♡ @sweetiebarnes ♡

[nekoannie-chan]

¿Qué más necesito?

Qué más necesito

Título: ¿Qué más necesito?

Fandom: Marvel, Capitán América.

Pareja: Steve Rogers X Lectora.

Palabras: 248 palabras.

Clasificación: B.

Sinopsis: Steve encontró a su alma gemela.

Advertencias: Fluff.

N/A:  Esta es mi entrada para WELCOME TO MY CAFE! Writing Challenge con la frase:

“Soulmate AU”

“¿Qué más necesito cuando tengo todo mi mundo en mis brazos?”

Links: Wattpad, Ao3, versión en inglés.

         Si te gusto por favor vota, comenta y rebloguea.

No doy ningún permiso para que mis fics sean publicados en otra plataforma o idioma (yo traduzco mi propio trabajo) o el uso de mis gráficos (mis separadores de texto también están incluidos), los cuales hice exclusivamente para mis fics, por favor respeta mi trabajo y no lo robes. Aquí en la plataforma hay personas que hacen separadores de texto para que cualquiera los pueda usar, los míos no son públicos, por favor busca los de dichas personas. La única excepción serían los regalos que he hecho ya que ahora pertenecen a alguien más. Si encuentras alguno de mis trabajos en una plataforma diferente y no es alguna de mis cuentas, por favor avísame. Los reblogs y comentarios están bien.

DISCLAIMER: Los personajes de Marvel no me pertenecen (desafortunadamente), exceptuando por los personajes originales y la historia.

Anótate en mi taglist aquí.

Otros lugares donde publico: Ao3, Wattpad, ffnet, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter.

Tags: @sinceimetyou @black23 @unnuevosoltransformalarealidad @azulatodoryuga

Desde pequeña, siempre habías soñado con el día en que tu marca brillara, revelando la identidad de tu alma gemela. Pasaste años imaginando cómo sería la persona que fuera tu alma gemela.

Una misión te había llevado a Nueva York, donde formabas parte de un pequeño equipo de agentes. No obstante una noche hubo un enfrentamiento inesperado, por un momento pensaste que iban a derrotarte hasta que de pronto Steve apareció, salvándote.

Steve te ayudó a levantarte, y cuando su mano tocó la tuya, sentiste un calor en la muñeca. Miraste hacia abajo y, para tu asombro, la marca en tu piel brillaba intensamente. 

Steve también la notó, y cuando levantó su propia muñeca, viste que la marca en su piel también brillaba. El mundo pareció detenerse por un momento, no sabías qué decir.

“¿Tú…?” comenzaste, sin saber cómo continuar.

 A partir de ese momento comenzaron a pasar más tiempo juntos.

“¿Alguna vez imaginaste que sería así?” preguntaste, rompiendo el silencio. 

"Nunca pensé mucho en ello. He vivido tanto tiempo… fuera de mi época, que llegué a aceptar que algunas cosas simplemente no estaban destinadas para mí, pero ahora, me doy cuenta de que estaba equivocado. Que el destino, o lo que sea, tenía un plan para mí. Y ese plan eras tú.”

—¿Cómo puedes estar tan seguro?

“Porque, ¿qué más necesito cuando tengo a mi mundo entero en mis brazos?” Steve tomó tu mano.

Lo abrazaste, en los brazos de Steve, sentiste que finalmente habías encontrado tu lugar.

[elixirfromthestars]

mee, it’s me !! i’m struggling with the deadline 😭 (school is killing me)

is it cool if i post a few days later?

Jo, that is absolutely fine!! 🫶🏼✨ Take your time ♡ I just wanted people to let me know so I can keep an eye out for it 👀❤️ The masterlist will continuously get updated so I have no problem with anyone submitting anything later ☕️🤎

I completely understand how overwhelming school can get, I hope it gets easier for you in the upcoming days ❤️

[elixirfromthestars]

I’m gone. I’m so gone. I’ve been melted into a puddle of softness and fluffiness and it’s all because of your beautiful writing Mollie 😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I need a moment because I’m genuinely overwhelmed in the best way on how sweet this was like 🥹💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

Your Lumberjack Bucky has stolen my heart and I have so much to say so I’ll leave it under the cut 😌🫶🏼✨

First of all, I’m obsessed with the cover art like it’s so beautiful 🥺💖 you always choose the most aesthetically gorgeous pictures and it fits the fic so well like it’s stunning!! 🧡🧡

You write so vividly and paint the imagery of every scene so beautifully that I feel like I’m genuinely there. Like I can imagine everything in my mind and it’s the most wonderful thing!! 💖 I want to pinpoint all my favorite parts, but then I’d have to put the whole fic so I’l have to settle for picking a few 🤭❤️

The fact that he was so tired and yet all he could think about was making it home to his baby 🥺💗 And he’s the sweetest putting the necessity of others as a priority 🥺🥺 knowing they’d need the wood for the cold season 🪵🤎

The way he only thought of her all the way home. The wedding ring, the sunset, the nickname Bear I’m— 😭❤️❤️

You shifted the duvet to swaddle around his frame once he reached you, cocooning him in your accumulated warmth over the day. Feeling your bare skin against his after hours away from you was liberating, like he had ascended to heaven. Even after years of wedded bliss, Bucky still got tingles whenever the two of you touched.

You were pure magic wrapped in a bottle.

^ Pure magic wrapped in a bottle, EXCUSE ME 😭💗💗💗 It was already so cute how all he could do was admire his Dolly and want to be in her arms and now this??? 💞💞💞

I love how he found so much comfort from just hearing her talk about her day. Like all he needed was her touch and voice to take his exhaustion and turn it into comfort 🥺❤️

Because that was his goal in life. His vow to you in marriage. To make your life as easy and simple as possible. To bring you peace when the world threatened to dull your sparkle.

And boy was he satisfied to know he had achieved that.

^ I need Lumberjack Bucky to make my life simple and easy like are you kidding me he’s the sweetest!!! 😭💖 Vowing to make sure her sparkle stays. I CAN’T 🥹❤️❤️

The way you added the prompt in the end and wrapped it all up in the fluffiest cozy end with Dolly thanking Bucky for being the reason her heart beats 🥺💕💕

Mollie I don’t know what I’m going to do like I absolutely adore how you write Bucky and you always leave me so smitten with your portrayal of him 🥹💗💗

Thank you so much for joining my writing challenge, I feel so honored that mine was the first you’ve ever done 🥹💖 Also thank you for sharing with us this beautiful piece 🥹❤️ I already know I’m going to be obsessed (who am I kidding I’m already obsessed lol) with The Love In The Woods Collection, so be prepared to have me drop in and absolutely lose my mind at every part 😌💕💕💕

A Balm To The Heart

Pairing: Lumberjack!Bucky Barnes x F!Reader

Word Count: 1.2k

Summary: After a long day at the woodyard, Bucky finds peace in his best girl’s arms.

Warnings: Pure unfiltered fluff, like the fluffiest fluff that ever fluffed, Bucky’s POV, driving while sleepy (don’t do it!!), pet names, established relationship, oh and did I mention fluff?

Author’s Note: Divider by @saradika-graphics. Proofread by @buckys-wintersoldier thank you so much my darling, you’re my rock 🧡 This is part of @elixirfromthestars cafe writing challenge!! Using the prompt 🍞 “I like hearing your heart beating when I put my head on your chest.” My first ever challenge I’ve been apart of and I had the most fun with it!! Thank you, my sweet Mel! 🥰

The Love In The Woods Collection ❄️

The sun began to lay on the precipice of the day, the light slowly fading out to make way for the dark of the night. Bucky fought the tiredness claiming his eyes, tempting him to fall asleep at the wheel. If you knew he was driving in his state, you’d throw a fit. 

But he had to make it home to his baby. 

Exhaustion weighed Bucky down from a long day at the woodyard. Hauling timber all day to prepare the town for the harsh winter coming up was enough to make his old joints ache with pain. However, with the lack of staff due to the storm blocking most of the roads, he had to do it all himself. 

Bucky just wanted to sink into you. 

All day, he was tormented by the prettiest image of you snuggled into your shared bed, pouty lips and pleading eyes begging him to call in sick, to stay home with you. 

And even though his sanity was tested, Bucky regretfully declined. All the old folks needed wood to keep their homes heated in the cold season and his mind wouldn’t have settled knowing a full day would be lost to his own selfishness. 

Though as he drove back to his cabin, rivers of golden beams shining into his truck, Bucky wished he had taken your offer.  

Although, his sourness sweetened into a warm affection as he caught the glint of his wedding ring in the dying sunlight. 

You love sunsets, Bucky smiled to himself. He had to take you to the top of the mountains to watch another one soon.

He could imagine you at home, watching the remnants of the day with its beautiful colours reflecting into your eyes. 

Sunsets mean the end of the day, fresh starts and hope that tomorrow will bring us more peace than today. Remember that, Bear. 

Your voice instantly calmed the mess in his mind, the stress that had wound his muscles tight. With a heavy sigh, Bucky let go of the toll the day had taken on him and instead focused on where the path ahead would lead him — you. 

The truck grumbled to a stop in the driveway and Bucky didn’t bother stopping to grab his tools or his bags. The pink painted door called to him, called your name, his home. 

Throwing the door open, Bucky quickly shook off his coat and boots. His steps didn’t falter as he made his way to the bedroom. Not when he began peeling his clothes off one by one on the way. Not when emotion clogged up his eyes at the smell of your sweet scent lingering around the house. 

And there you were as he entered his bedroom. Once crafted by his bare hands as part of his first home after he left college, now his safe space in which he was lucky enough to share with his wife. His haven. 

It looked like you hadn’t moved from the morning. Still tangled in the sheets, your hair was messy from your tossing and turning, though your skin glowed beautifully in the golden sunlight that shimmered through the window. The orange tones that tattooed your body almost gave you a vintage look and the sight was enough to render Bucky speechless. 

Just like the day you showed up on his doorstep after years apart. 

Your smile was blinding as you looked up at him, tearing yourself away from your fantasy book he knew you loved so much and placing it on the nightstand. “Hey, baby. I missed you.” 

If that didn’t do things to Bucky’s heart. 

“Dolly,” he gasped, a slight whine to his voice. 

Instantly, because you’re so well in tune with him, your arms opened wide — an invitation to join you. “Come here, you big lug.” 

Bucky didn't waste another second. Clad in only his underwear, he all but jumped onto the bed, the pristinely crafted wood of the frame creaking from old age. 

You shifted the duvet to swaddle around his frame once he reached you, cocooning him in your accumulated warmth over the day. Feeling your bare skin against his after hours away from you was liberating, like he had ascended to heaven. Even after years of wedded bliss, Bucky still got tingles whenever the two of you touched. 

You were pure magic wrapped in a bottle. 

“Can I lay my head on you?” Bucky asked quietly, relishing in the serenity you so easily provided him. 

You laughed, the sound mesmerising to his ears. “Like you even have to ask. Tell me about your day, Bear.” 

Needing no other permission, Bucky laid in your arms. Positioning his head on your chest, his arms wrapped around your stomach and his legs intertwined with yours. He was so much bigger than you, comically so. But Bucky needed to lose himself in your softness from time to time. 

He groaned as the muscles in his joints finally had a chance to relax. “I would much rather hear about your day, sweetheart. Lemme hear your voice for a while, will ya?” 

Bucky looked up to find your cheeks tightened from the large, bashful smile on your face, one that he knew you had tried to smother but failed to do so. They were his favourite. 

You shook your head fondly and squeezed him before beginning to recall your day. It wasn’t filled with much — mostly with bathroom breaks when you could rip yourself out of bed, a trip to the home library down the hall to pick the next book of your series, and lastly an hour of baking. Even so, Bucky listened to you intently, his soul replenishing more with each activity you listed off. 

Because that was his goal in life. His vow to you in marriage. To make your life as easy and simple as possible. To bring you peace when the world threatened to dull your sparkle. 

And boy was he satisfied to know he had achieved that. 

Bucky’s eyes began to grow heavy, the kind that he couldn’t fight any longer. You must have noticed from the loosening of his limbs and the sudden lightness to his body. “Are you sleepy, baby?” 

The rhythm of your heart soothed him as he murmured a lazy hum of agreement. 

“You can rest now, Bear.” Your soft voice sounded further away as sleep started to overtake him, like the prettiest lullaby he’d ever heard. “I’ve got you.” 

Before the whispers of slumber could steal him, though, Bucky smiled — drunken and free. “I like hearing your heart beating when I put my head on your chest.”

The giggle that vibrated from your body to his only made him fall even more in love with you. Bucky purred like a cat as you ran your nails through his hair and finally let himself go. 

The last sensation that registered in his mind was the feeling of your lips pressed against his head and a last declaration of love. “Thank you for being the reason it does.” 

[elixirfromthestars]

Hey! Your Cafe Writing Challenge looks lovely. I just wanted to confirm; is it alright to use just an AU and a Sweet Treat from the prompt list for inspiration and to not use a song - I got an idea based on the first two but it doesn't fit any of the songs listed? Thank you for answering and for hosting a challenge!

Thank you!! 🫶🏼✨ Yes that is completely fine!! As long as one prompt is used you’re good ☕️🤎 You don’t necessarily have to combine all three or even two. I just added them there for extra ideas!

Let me know if that answer helped! ☺️ Can’t wait to see what you come up with!! 💖

[elixirfromthestars]

Hi 💜

I stumbled upon your café/coffee shop writing challenge and was wondering if it’s okay to still write and submit a story for it? I’ve been wanting to write a nice fall-themed story and your challenge is the perfect nudge to do so.

If not, it is it’s okay too. Thank you in advance!

Hello!! ☕️🤎

Yes, it is absolutely okay!! ✨ I want my writing challenge to keep inspiring writers, so submissions are honestly never closed lol Please feel free to write and submit a story for it, I would be so happy to read it!! 💖

[elixirfromthestars]

Hi!

Just a quick question about the Cafe Writing challenge.

Would a retro themed (1940s) burger diner fit into the theme? Reader x character would be having a meal there at night.

Hi! ✨

Honestly, the writing challenge is super flexible it doesn’t have to be in an actual cafe!! ☺️ If you use any of the prompts or songs you can honestly have the setting be anywhere. But if you don’t use any prompts then if you have coffee or a cafe anywhere in the fic you’re good 👀✨

Hope that helped clarify!! 🫶🏼

[elixirfromthestars]

If I haven’t read your writing challenge submission yet just know that I’ve seen it and I promise to read them all by tonight and post the masterlist!! ❤️ My internship hours took longer than expected today 😭 and the day just flew by 😅 (I’ve been in court all day and missed lunch 🙃)

But I’m so excited to get home and wind down reading all of your lovely submissions!! 💖 And also finally share this masterlist that I’ve designed 👀☕️🤎

[elixirfromthestars]

When I tell you I cannot wait for everyone to see the masterlist I’m making for my writing challenge 👀 I really hope the concept works out like I want it to ☕️🤎