so as I’ve been posting about for the last few days, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed on this blog and decided to start fresh on a new blog with a new url. If you want to join me there, please send me a message and I’ll happily link you (and carry over any threads specifically anyone would like to do).

so as I’ve been posting about for the last few days, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed on this blog and decided to start fresh on a new blog with a new url. If you want to join me there, please send me a message and I’ll happily link you (and carry over any threads specifically anyone would like to do).

so as I’ve been posting about for the last few days, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed on this blog and decided to start fresh on a new blog with a new url. If you want to join me there, please send me a message and I’ll happily link you (and carry over any threads specifically anyone would like to do).

so as I’ve been posting about for the last few days, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed on this blog and decided to start fresh on a new blog with a new url. If you want to join me there, please send me a message and I’ll happily link you (and carry over any threads specifically anyone would like to do).

so as I’ve been posting about for the last few days, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed on this blog and decided to start fresh on a new blog with a new url. If you want to join me there, please send me a message and I’ll happily link you (and carry over any threads specifically anyone would like to do).

so as I’ve been posting about for the last few days, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed on this blog and decided to start fresh on a new blog with a new url. If you want to join me there, please send me a message and I’ll happily link you (and carry over any threads specifically anyone would like to do).

so as I’ve been posting about for the last few days, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed on this blog and decided to start fresh on a new blog with a new url. If you want to join me there, please send me a message and I’ll happily link you (and carry over any threads specifically anyone would like to do).

*angels singing in the distance*

(source because i just got home)

#i’d like to thank not only god but the russo brothers

so as I’ve been posting about for the last few days, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed on this blog and decided to start fresh on a new blog with a new url. If you want to join me there, please send me a message and I’ll happily link you (and carry over any threads specifically anyone would like to do).

so as I’ve been posting about for the last few days, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed on this blog and decided to start fresh on a new blog with a new url. If you want to join me there, please send me a message and I’ll happily link you (and carry over any threads specifically anyone would like to do).

so as I’ve been posting about for the last few days, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed on this blog and decided to start fresh on a new blog with a new url. If you want to join me there, please send me a message and I’ll happily link you (and carry over any threads specifically anyone would like to do).

Flowers and Ink

Steve was more interested in just cuddling up on the couch rather than actually eating, but this night was about dinner, first of all. Plus, dinner was almost ready. He thought for a moment, then his cheeks flushed and he let out a laugh. “Er… how about a beer, instead?” he offered. “I mean, it’s just- I’ve made a meat pie for dinner, so wine wouldn’t really… I’m dumb, sorry. But I do have wine! If that’s something you’d still want, of course.” 

He cleared his throat lightly and gave himself a little shake to try to rid himself of the nervous energy. Biting his lip, he turned and wandered back toward the kitchen to get whatever drink Bucky decided on. Steve had bought a bottle of wine before he’d figured out what he was making for dinner, but it wouldn’t go well with the meal, really. And Guinness was something he always had on hand. He paused, looking to his date once more when the other man thanked him, and he smiled shyly, nodding. “Yeah, of course. You’re completely welcome here. Hey, oh- do you want like a tour of the place or anything? It’s not too big… Or you can just wander around on your own, if you want?”

They were both nervous, and that revelation was a bit of news to Bucky. He wondered why they'd been so at ease at the shop but now all jittery here. "Oh, that's fine, I like both. I'm really not that picky at all." Bucky insisted, trying to put Steve at ease as he watched him walk back into the kitchen. Rocking back and forth on his heels, hands still in his pockets, he nodded after a second at the question. 

"If you don't mind could I, just, take a quick lap? Then you could give me the tour?" Bucky asked, a little relieved at the offer. He had been starting to feel the normal anxiety grow at the back of his skull, he didn't know all the exits or windows and he hadn't bothered checking the perimeter before coming because he'd been afraid he'd be spotted. Even though Steve knew his "issue" it didn't make it any less embarrassing. But the offer was good, it meant he wasn't intruding. 

Flowers and Ink

Steve bit his lip, his gaze following Bucky as the other stepped into his apartment. “They’re beautiful.” He closed the door behind his date, then stepped in to smell the flowers, then leaned up on his tiptoes to steal a kiss. “I’m so glad you’re here,” he added in a whisper, kissing Bucky one more time before reaching out to take the vase. 

"We can put these on the table," he mused as he led the way into the apartment. It was a homey place, warm and decorated with a few pieces of his own art and pictures. There were some pictures with the group from work at various parties, as well as from Ireland. The table was a small square one, two places next to one another already set. Steve set the flowers toward the opposite corner, then stepped back and grinned at the sight.

He turned back to Bucky when the other complimented him and took a deep breath, his smile turning sheepish. “Thank you. You want um… something to drink? Glass of wine?”

More of his nervousness eased away with the kiss and he couldn't help but smile as his heart fluttered pleasantly at Steve's confession. He wondered if the blond knew how glad he was there too. The kiss was too fast, but he had a feeling they'd have time for more later. "That sounds good." He agreed, looking around the apartment. It was clean and had a lot of warmth compared to his slightly bigger one. He wondered how long Steve had been living there. 

"I'll have a glass if you do." Bucky decided, not always trusting his impulse control when it came to alcohol, but he wasn't in a bad mood and he wasn't stressed, so he should be able to abstain at a reasonable amount easily. He put his hands in his pockets, still walking around the living room and looking at the pictures. "Thanks for having me over." Bucky offered, trying not to let the silence wander on too long.

Flowers and Ink

Steve was as excited as ever about his date with Bucky on Saturday night. He cleaned up the apartment- even though it was always clean anyway; it had to be, thanks to his asthma. But he cleaned little things he often overlooked, perked up the couch cushions and the pillows, cleaned the glass surfaces. When he  got home from work on Saturday, Steve showered and dressed in a nice button-up shirt that made his eyes an even brighter blue and put on a pair of black slacks with suspenders. His sleeves were rolled up to his forearm as he got to work cooking dinner.

The blond was listening for a knock to sound at the door, but it never came. Instead, his phone chimed, alerting him he had a text, and he checked it, biting his lip as he grinned. He wanted to run right to the door and swing it open, but he didn’t want to spook Bucky, so he quickly texted him back. 

[text: Flower Guy] You’re at the right place. Be right there.

Steve gave him a moment to read the text, then calmly made his way to the door. He pulled the door open with a broad grin. “Hey! Wow, you look great. Come in, come in,” he added, stepping back to let Bucky in.

He jumped stupidly when the phone vibrated in his hand, but felt relieved when he realized he was at the right place. Bucky could hear Steve's footsteps and was able not to flinch when the door opened, smiling just as widely back. "I brought you some more so you'd have a matching set." Bucky explained as he stepped inside with the vase. 

The arrangement was considerably bigger than the first one, but not overly ostentatious. Steve looked good, and Bucky felt slightly underdressed in his long sleeved flannel and dark jeans. He had pulled his hair back in a neat ponytail, despite it making the scars on the left side of his neck a bit more visible. He'd covered them with one of the many scarves he'd knitted, a simple black one. Bucky actually planned on leaving it behind, since Steve had mentioned wanting one anyways. 

"You look really nice," Bucky complimented as he followed Steve out of the foyer and into the main part of the apartment. It looked really nice. 

Flowers and Ink

The blond head bobbed in a little nod. That was it, that was all he did. It was his hour or two of good, fresh air each week, even during the winter. He always imagined Ma yelling at him about hanging out in the snow, not wearing enough layers, that he’d probably get sick. He didn’t go if the weather was really bad, of course, but a little snow certainly wasn’t going to scare him off.

When Bucky’s hand slipped up underneath his own, Steve lifted his gaze back to the other’s. His features softened and he gave the hand in his a squeeze. “You didn’t make me feel weird, it’s okay. I know people think it’s silly, and sure, it’s not somethin’ for everyone. I was a real mess for a while after she died. After I went to Ireland, I came home and I didn’t have anyone to talk about my experiences with, so I ended up going to her grave and it just kind of became a thing, I guess.”

He smiled at the other, nodding as he tried to imagine his mom meeting Bucky. “She would’a loved you.”

"I hope so." Bucky replied, leaning forward to press a light kiss to the blond's cheek and then pulled back to go back to organizing the shop. He enjoyed the day with Steve, glad that the blond had decided to stay later with him. It made him all the more eager for Saturday. 

When it rolled around, Bucky handed over the keys to Clint, letting him close it rather then himself since it'd be open later than normal. It wasn't without quite a bit of nervousness that he showered and attempted to make himself look decent and he showed up with flowers in a vase, a different one from the one he'd given Steve for his station at the shoppe and it was quite a bit more elaborate.

Shifting it to one hand, he knew he was being silly, but he didn't want to accidentally knock on the wrong door. Bucky text Steve quickly, hoping he was at the right place.

[ text ; Sunshine ] I think I'm at your place, you're 345B right?

When Bucky shook his head, Steve reseated himself to continue eating. He kept his head down some, but he watched his friend as he chewed. Bucky seemed different. There was a sadness to his features, the smiles he gave not quite reaching his eyes— those crinkles at the corners just plain absent. What was he thinking about? What made him so sad? Watching him made Steve’s heart ache.

Gabriel looked up when Bucky questioned him, then glanced down at his Superman fork and matching plate. “Evr’thing tastes better with Supaman! He’sa best, ya know.”

Steve sipped at his coffee and cleared his throat lightly. “Any plans for today, Buck? Maybe we can do our Chinatown thing later, if you’re free…”

Bucky laughed at Gabriel's assertion. "Of course it does, how could I forget?" He agreed, finishing up his pancakes. Reaching out, he grabbed the cup of coffee. Bucky looked up when Steve spoke again, unsure how to answer. Sure he would love to spend more time with Steve and Gabriel, but really what was the point? They were going to go back to their lives and he was going to go back to being a show pony.

"I don't have anything going on." Bucky said despite these thoughts. He might as well enjoy it while he could. Maybe it wouldn't bother him if he had a good time, it wouldn't bother him if he had good things to think about once he was alone again.