Happycat547 - 🌞🌗⭐️

GUUUUUUURL . Amazing as always

Water and Ice is a nice combo :D

ok but mob!bucky having a nightmare about his enemies killing his fairy in front of him and he’s desperate to get to her when he wakes up

changed this a little from the request, hope u still enjoy <3

how you love me

18+

Content Warning: Mob!Bucky x Best Friend!Reader, mature themes, high!bucky, mention of hard drugs and their effects including paranoia and hallucination, protective!bucky, one kiss, unrequited love, ANGST.

Bucky knows he made a mistake. He knows that trying Peter's products always ends badly, but he still ate the damn shrooms, anyway. The worst part is, you're not even here to settle his wild thoughts.

"You alright, boss?" Peter asks timidly, raising a brow. "Feels good, right? I was thinking we could start selling it. We could make millions."

"Not now, Parker," Sam barks, recognising the look on Bucky's face. "Just go get some water." Once Peter leaves, Sam leans into Bucky. "You okay?"

"I can see the future," Bucky states, sitting back in the armchair with his gaze on the ceiling. "My fairy. He's gonna hurt my fairy."

Sighing, Sam pats his shoulder gently. "Y/N's safe and sound, boss. Barton's got eyes on the venue. She's protected."

"He has men on the inside," Bucky says with wide eyes. "Fisk has a guy on the inside, I know it. I'm psychic, Sam."

"Fisk is in prison, and you're not psychic-"

"I've unlocked my powers," Bucky cuts him off with a grave tone, sitting up. "Fisk has connections. He knows how much fairy means to me. He's gonna kill her."

"Boss-"

"I gotta get to her," Bucky says desperately, standing up and breathing heavily. "I need to save her. I promised her I'd always keep her safe - I need to save her, Sam. It might already be too late!"

"Alright, alright; you can go see her if you really want to," Sam gives in, standing up and taking out his keys. "But I'm driving. You're fucked."

Twenty minutes of Bucky yelling at Sam to hurry the fuck up later, they finally arrive at the small restaurant.

Bucky all but sprints into the venue, on high alert as he looks around, ready to kill anyone who looks suspicious. The restaurant has been booked out for the party, with cutesy decorations and finger food.

Spotting you talking to your friends, Bucky is utterly relieved. He can't help but rush over, grab you by the waist and plant his lips right onto yours in a deep kiss. You're surprised, to say the least, but quickly get lost in the kiss as he holds you tight against his body as he tongue plays with yours. It's as though everyone around you fades into obscurity. The music is silenced, the presence of your friends forgotten. All that matters is Bucky, and how right it feels to be held by him as he sticks his tongue down your throat.

Fuck. Is this it? Is he about to tell you he's in love with you? You can't say you haven't seen it coming, but it will change everything. You almost feel safer as just his friend, but damn would it feel good to hear him finally admit that he wants more from your relationship.

When he pulls away, you let out a nervous laugh, your heart racing. "What- what was that for, Jamie?"

He cups your face in his hand, and for a second he feels stone-cold sober. Why did he kiss you? He doesn't think he can answer that himself. Afraid to confront the possible truth, he clears his throat. "Uh... I'm high as fuck," He utters, completely ruining the moment.

Admittedly, you're disappointed. Feeling deflated, you nod. "Oh," You whisper, hoping it isn't obvious that all you can think of are his lips. "What are you doing here?"

Remembering his psychic reading, Bucky grabs you tightly again. "Fairy, you're in danger."

You're taken aback by his words, offering your confused friends a shrug as you pull him to the side. "Um, what?"

"He wants to kill you," Bucky says with a wild look. "But dont worry; I'm here to save you."

Looking him up and down, you frown with concern. "How much coke are you on right now?"

"Not coke; Parker gave me these incredible shrooms, and they helped me realize that I know everything about you, even your future," He rambles. "And you're gonna be killed unless I save you, fairy."

Knowing he's out of his mind, you remain calm, not wanting to set him off or upset him while he's in this state. "Right. And who's trying to kill me?"

Looking around the room, Bucky frowns. "Is this- what is this?"

"It's a baby shower, Jamie," You tell him. "I told you about it last week, remember?"

With eyes as wide as saucers, he looks down at your stomach and places his palm on it. "You're pregnant?" He asks you, lowering his voice. "Is it mine?"

Snorting, you push his hand away and roll your eyes. "I'm not pregnant, Jamie- and how would that even be possible?"

"Magic?" He whispers. "Fairy dust."

"I think you need to lay off the fairy dust, Buck," You mutter, before taking his hand in yours. "Come on. Let's go home."

After giving your friends an apologetic goodbye, you take Bucky home, thankful for Sam who gives you a ride.

Once you're at his place, you take Bucky upstairs and take off his jacket and shirt.

"What's this?" He questions you with a smirk, watching you pull down the zipper of his pants. "Are we about to fuck?"

"No," You say between laughs, putting him in a comfy t-shirt and pyjama pants.

"I can still see the future, you know," He claims childishly, sitting down on his bed and pulling you down onto his lap. Leaning closer, he whispers, "And you're about to let me fuck you."

Although on any other day, you'd laugh and tell him to screw himself, the emotional day you've already had prevents you from being able to take his words lightly. With all of your friends getting pregnant and married, you feel like something's missing, and the distance between you and Bucky is beginning to feel bigger and bigger. The kiss earlier has only amplified your feelings, leading you to realize that you're no longer satisfied with just being his friend.

"What's wrong, fairy?" He asks with a pout.

You get off his lap to sit next to him instead, looking down. "Nothin'."

"Is this because I wanna fuck you?" He questions you. "Because I always do."

"Stop," You whisper, sniffling as your eyes tear up. "I hate when you say stuff like that."

"What?" He turns to you, confused and concerned as he reaches out for your hand. "What are you talking about, fairy? You know I'm only kidding."

"Exactly," You huff. "You're always kidding. Why can't you take me seriously for once?"

"Woah, baby, I'm always serious with you," He mumbles, stroking the back of your hand. "You're the most serious thing in my life. I love you."

"Not how I love you."

There's a short silence that follows your words, during which you feel a heavy onslaught of regret. Fuck. Why did you have to say that?

"I love you in every single way possible," Bucky claims stubbornly. "I can't even - all I can see is my love around you right now. It's like this pink... cloud. And you're the only one who has it."

"You're so fucking high," You grumble, rubbing your face. "You're not even gonna remember this conversation."

"So, tell me," He pushes you with a slight slur. "Tell me how you love me."

You purse your lips together, almost feeling nauseous.

"Tell me," He whines, burying his face in your neck. "Please, fairy, baby. Tell me."

Letting out a shaky breath, you gather your thoughts before speaking. "I love you in the way that I don't think there's a single thing you could do to make me stop. You're the most special person in the world to me, the only one that truly matters. I love you and it kills me, but I still love you because I'd rather die small deaths everyday than live without you."

He whimpers against your skin, resting his hand on your thigh.

"I love you more than I should," You realize out loud, shocking even yourself. "I love you more than a friend. Even more than a best friend. You don't just have my love; you are my love. It means nothing without you being on the other end of it. But you're not... so I guess it does mean nothing."

His soft snores pull you back to reality. Looking down, you realize that he's fallen asleep, and you can't help but laugh at your own foolishness. You find some comfort in knowing that he'll have forgotten your admission by the time he wakes up - if he even heard it in the first place, that is.

"I love you, Jamie," You whisper, stroking his hair. "More than you'll ever care to find out."

series masterlist

side blog for updates: @kinanabinksupdates

buy me a kofi <3

I suck…but Happy New Year!! :D

Lovely tuesday evening and Im baling my eyes out

Peanut

~ gif not mine credit to owner ~

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x fem!Reader

Summary: Bucky won’t be home tonight. He just hopes his girl knows how much he loves her.

Word count: 1,616

Warnings: angst. some more angst. death. swearing.

Masterlist

It wasn’t meant to be like this, it was meant to be a straight forward mission get in and get out that’s what Fury said, not with the majority of the team fighting with their bare fists against guns.

Bucky looked to his left after hearing Natasha cry out in pain, her hand going straight to her thigh where blood was seeping through the crevices of her fingers. Another deafening gunshot one after the other. He hears Sam groaning in pain as he crashed into the ground after he had been shot down.

The chaos surrounding him had his mind spiralling in confusion. He didn’t know who to go to save first. He didn’t know where Steve was. His right side was throbbing. He just wanted to go home to his love and cuddle up in bed whilst watching shitty tv programs with his fingers threading through her soft hair.

These agents weren’t backing down in the slightest, every time he blinked he swore that the number of said agents grew. Bucky heard Steve ordering the team to retreat Nat gave Bucky a confused look which he shrugged but complied with his best friends request.

“SHIELD agents are here” Steve panted down his comms trying to fight off his opponents.

With the extra back up they were now gaining the upper hand.

After what felt like hours but realistically was only twenty minutes tops all Hydra agents were down, those still breathing were being handcuffed and already being loaded on the jets.

As Natasha, Sam, Wanda were getting patched up Bucky, Steve and Tony made their way through the now destroyed base to look for what they originally came for. Steve eyed Bucky up and down noticing that his right hand was pressing down on his right side.

“Buck?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, it’s just a graze”

“That’s not just a graze tinman” Tony says also eyeing up Bucky’s side.

“I’m fine. Come on let’s get this done” Steve and Tony share a look of concern behind Bucky’s back watching the man starting to lean on his left side to make it easier for himself.

Just as Bucky turned the corner his foot stood on something making a beeping noise, looking down he swallowed. “Steve”

“What’s up?”

“C-can you go and get my phone off the jet”

“Huh? Why?” The blond looked at Tony who shrugged in response.

“Ju-just get me my phone please, please Steve”

“Okay-“

“I’ll get it Cap” Tony says before flying off to the jet. Steve made his way to where he knew Bucky had gone.

“Stop! Stop Steve”

“Buck what’s going on?”

“I-I’ve erm I’ve triggered a bomb I think” Bucky admits with his head downwards trying to find a wire in hopes that someone could deactivate the thing.

“Buck…”

“I know okay I know. I can’t find the wire but I-I know it’s bad alright”

Neither one of the super soldiers realise that the rest of the team including SHIELD agents could hear the conversation through their comms. Tony’s feet faltered when he was heading towards Bucky’s duffle. Nat squeezed Wanda’s hand, Sam closed his eyes and Steve looked around desperately hoping he could see a wire or something to deactivate the bomb he could see under his best friends boot.

Back at the shared home you shared with Bucky you was getting all the ingredients for Bucky’s favourite meal. The loud buzzing of your phone startled you from its place on the counter.

“Hey babe, you on your way home? I’m making your favourite dinner tonight, why? Because I love you. How was the mission? Everyone’s okay aren’t they? Buck?” You rambled, excited to talk to him, it wasn’t until you noticed that he was completely silent on the other end. You pulled your phone away from your ear and checked to see if the call dropped but it didn’t. “Buck?”

“Hi baby”

“Are you-“

“I love you, you know that don’t you?”

“I do, Buck wha-“

“I love you more than anything, please don’t ever forget that okay”

“Bucky what’s going on? Are you hurt? Is Steve with you? What-“

“Baby I-I’m not going to make it home tonight”

“No no no you are alright, don’t be silly babe. You’ll come home to me a-and I’ll take care of you and you’ll be okay-“

“Love, listen to me, I’m not, god I wish I was but it’s not happening b-but listen I love you a-and I love Peanut please tell them that, promise me that you’ll tell them, baby please”

Gasping for air as your airways started to close up you nodded completely forgetting he couldn’t see you, with a painful rasp you promised him that you would keep your promise.

The team shared glances at hearing Bucky’s mention of Peanut, unaware of what he was talking about. Due to Steve’s enhanced hearing his heart broke at hearing your voice sounding broken.

“I love you Y/n. I love you” Bucky repeated softly as the tears streamed down both of your faces.

“Steve?”

“I-I’m here mate”

“You need to get ev-everyone out of here, now. I-I can’t hold on any longer”

“B-Buck, Sam can get you out-“

“He can’t and you know it. It-it won’t work alright, no point in two families grieving. But Stevie you need to pro-promise that me that you’ll take care of Y/n, please I don’t want her to be left alone”

“Bucky if you hold on for five minutes Sam can get you out-“ Tony says as he tried to fix the right wing that had been damaged earlier that day.

“I don’t have five minutes. Okay I-I don’t have that alright, please you all need to leave”

“Buck-“

“Leave! Just get everyone out of here, please Steve”

“O-okay. Okay everyone get out, now.” The agents start leaving but the Avengers don’t. Tony was still trying to fix Sam’s wing, getting frustrated as the wires and pieces weren’t connecting properly, even Tony’s suit was too damaged to use. None of them wanted to leave him alone.

“Steve, it’s okay. It’s okay just promise to look after Y/n, you’ve only have a few minutes left to get out so please guys, just go.”

Reluctantly they do as he says, knowing that it was no use arguing with him. Both Sam and Tony have to drag Steve out as he refused to move, to leave him best friend to die.

“W-we’re outside Buck” Steve says through his comms, standing far enough away from the base he clinged onto Tony’s arm.

“Good. Baby are you still there? Hey, hey it’s okay, everything’s going to be okay I swear. I love you and Peanut so fucking much baby. I’m sorry princess, I really am. Baby? I have to go now alright, I love you” everyone bowed their heads at hearing Bucky’s words.

Bucky closes his eyes and smiles softly as the last image he’s ever going to see is of his greatest love. Slowly he moves his foot off the bomb.

Steve tried to keep up his promise but it wasn’t working as Y/n kept pushing him away. He understood that she was grieving but so was he but he also made a promise to his best friend. He couldn’t let Bucky down.

A month after that fateful day it was time to bury the remains of Bucky’s body. The team went back into the base after the smoke and fire cleared, all disobeying the direct orders from Fury, they refused to leave without Bucky. It wasn’t fair on him or on Y/n. For the first time in that month they had seen her, she didn’t answer their phone calls or answered the door when they went to the apartment she shared with Bucky.

As they stood by the side of the coffin watching as it went into the ground, Y/n looked up to the sky and smiled sadly. They all noticed her hand placement.

“Y/n, a-are you?” Steve asked.

“Four months, Buck wanted to tell you but I told him it was too soon. I-it was three months the day, that day, anyway that’s why he was retiring, he wanted to be there for Peanut” she said softly.

“H-he was retiring?”

“He gave Fury his notice, he only had a week left before he retired”

The news of hearing that he only had one week left made their stomachs hurt. He was so close to being free from fighting and raising a family with his love.

“Y/n-“

“Don’t apologise okay, I know he’s still here with us. Please don’t be strangers alright? I’ll see you around” Before they could reply she was already walking away from them.

As she gave birth she had Steve on one side and Wanda on the other, both ignoring the throbbing pain in their hands as she squeezed them.

“He’s gorgeous Y/n, what’s the little man’s name?” Nat asked as soon as they were allowed in the room to see the newest member of their family.

“Buck said if the baby was a boy he wanted him to be named after him so, James Stevie Barnes”

Nobody was aware that the Bucky was in the room, he stood at the bottom of the bed watching with admiration in his eyes at his love with her arms around their son. His arm on the shoulder of his mom Winnie. The two stood there long after everyone had left, Y/n and baby James had gone to sleep.

Placing a kiss to his son’s head he told him that he would always watch over him. Moving to the bed he did the same to Y/n.

“I love you both forever”

Tags: @imcinnamoons | @pigeonmama | @capsbestgirl77

For the SACS Universe, maybe Becca brings over a boy and Bucky is there in cop dad mode 😆

“Sorry I’m a little late! Was just finishing up some paperwork!” you hear Bucky call out from the front door. He comes rushing into the kitchen with a huff and freezes when he sees someone sitting beside Becca. But not just a someone, a boy, “Who are you?”

The boy gives Bucky a polite smile, “Hi, sir, I’m Jacob. I’m Becca’s partner for a project we’re working on in Film class.” 

Bucky narrows his eyes as the boy and slowly makes his way to the empty seat waiting for him, “Partner, huh? That’s all? You’re just project partners?”

“Daaad!” Becca whines, not wanting her to start.

“Bucky,” you give him a pointed glare and he just shrugs it off.

“So, Jacob, have you ever done drugs?”

“What?”

“DAD!”

“JAMES!” 

You and Becca cry out and Jacob suddenly looks intimated. 

Bucky continues to shrug off your cries, “Ever stolen anything? Ever participate in underage drinking? I gotta know that my daughter is hanging out with the right people.”

Becca growns, burying her head into her hands, “Mom! Stop him!”

You sighed and gave Bucky a look, “Bucky, Jacob is Becca’s friend and our guest for tonight. Not a suspect. Enough with the interrogation.”

“Fine,” he mumbled before digging into his food. While everyone else went back to eating, Bucky mouthed to Jacob, “I’m watching you.”

Explosion of Love

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~1.6k

Warnings: stepping on a mine, thinking you're gonna die, thinking the love of your life is gonna die, angst, fluff at the end

Summary: Fury has you and the team going through a minefield to look for lost data the Soviets left behind. Your scanners pick up most of the mines, but luck has it that you step on the most dangerous one of all.

Squares Filled: explosion (2020) for @star-spangled-bingo

Author’s Note: I realize that landmines explode as soon as someone makes contact with them, HOWEVER, this is my story and it's fiction so I get to make the rules and I say only when the pressure is relieved do they explode like in the movies.

x

Miles of wasteland stand before you, acres of land that are charred from the explosions that happened between the Soviets and US Intelligence. The Soviets stole data with the intention of selling it to assassins and killers, so Fury tasked your team to go collect that stolen data. When the Soviets knew the Us was closing in on them, they scattered the data across acres knowing it would take them forever to try and retrieve it.

You’re about to step foot onto the charred land when Bucky stops you.

“Look at this.” He points to a sign a few yards away. “This is a minefield. Be careful. I don’t really wanna clean bits and pieces of the team.”

“Should we turn back?” you ask. “We only have technology scanners for the area. We can grab mine scanners.”

“No, we’re already here. Just be careful. Our scanners should be able to detect them.”

“Easy for you to say. You can fly,” you joke with Tony.

The land is so large that you have to split up on your own. Tony’s right, the scanners you have are able to detect most of the mines. Some of them are hidden so you’re not going to touch those areas if you don’t know if there is a landmine or not. Everyone is connected with earpieces so you can communicate if something is wrong, so you’re just listening to the casual conversation some are having as if you’re taking a walk in the park instead of through a deadly minefield.

“Are you and Laura finally taking that vacation you’ve been talking about?” Natasha asks.

“Yeah. Cooper is old enough to watch the other two. I was thinking of taking her up north.”

“I think she’d like that.”

You scan the ground as you walk slowly and find one of the boxes buried containing data. You kneel and dig the box up before plugging your flash drive into the data box. Once it’s done downloading, you take it out and continue to search for other data boxes. Your scanner is picking up most of the landmines but there is one patch of land that is coming up blank.

Stupid you walks right over it thinking it’s safe. You step onto fresh soil and hear something click from below you. You pause and look down to see what you stepped on. It’s buried underneath the ground but you can definitely feel something under your foot. Since this place is so big, there is no one around you to help you. No one knows you’ve stepped on one. No one knows you need help.

Your first instinct is to run like hell and hope you can survive, but you’ll only have a second before the mine goes off. Tears start rolling down your cheeks at the thought of dying. You’re still young, you still want to see the world, get married to the love of your life, and live life to the fullest with him by your side.

“Hey, guys?” you sniffle and wipe your tears even though more fall. “I’m in trouble here.”

“What’s going on?” Bucky asks in concern.

“I stepped on a mine.” Everyone becomes alert. Your body shakes in fear and your voice cracks under the pressure. “What do I do?”

“I’m on my way. Don’t move,” Bucky says. Only Bucky comes to your aid because he doesn’t want to put anyone else at risk of stepping on a mine. Bucky can see just how terrified you are when he gets to you. “Doll, you’re gonna be okay. Don’t worry, I got you.”

“I don’t want to die,” you cry.

“You’re not gonna die. I promise I won’t let that happen. Take some deep breaths for me, Doll.” The first and second ones are shaky but the third and fourth ones are much smoother. “Good girl. You’re doing great. Keep doing that. I’m gonna dig the mine out so I can see what we’re dealing with. This won’t explode. I’m just digging around it.”

“Okay,” you sigh shakily.

Bucky gets on his knees and uses his knife to dig out the soil around the mine. Tony, Rhodey, and Sam fly over to see how bad the situation is while the rest of the Avengers make their way back to the start of the minefield.

“What’s going on here? What do you see?” Sam asks Bucky.

Bucky digs out enough soil to see exactly the kind of mind you stepped on.

“It’s a bounding mine.”

“Shit,” Sam sighs.

“What does that mean?” you panic.

“Nothing--”

“Don’t bullshit me, Bucky. What does that mean?”

“It’s a more deadly mine than the others. It shoots the main propeller about four feet into the air, and metal shards fly out of it over the span of six hundred feet. It’s very deadly.”

“Can you disable it?” Steve asks over comm.

“No.”

“Oh, God,” you cry and cover your mouth. You take two deep breaths to calm yourself down. “Bucky, get the hell out of here.”

“Like hell, I’m leaving you.”

“Bucky, please,” you whimper and take his hand. He stands to his full height in front of you. “I don’t want to die but I don’t want you to die more. You need to get out of here. There’s no use for this mine to take both of us out. Tony, get him the hell out of here.”

Tony is about to take Bucky when your boyfriend holds up a hand to stop him.

“Wait. Can I at least get a kiss goodbye?”

Instead of giving him a verbal answer, you pull him close and kiss him like it’s gonna be your last. He slides his hand into your hair and grips it gently so he can control the kiss. He kisses you in a way that makes your head dizzy. The kind of kiss that makes you forget about everything but the feel of his lips.

If he’s gonna kiss you one more time, may as well make it memorable. You pull away from him and open your eyes to study the shade of blue in his. You expect him to pull away and leave your side but you frown when he doesn’t. You look down to see him standing on top of the mine and you are free. He must have switched positions with you while kissing you.

“No, what did you do?” you gasp.

“I promised you I wouldn’t let you die.”

“No, I’m not letting you do this!”

“Tony, get her out of here.”

As soon as Tony’s hands are on you, you’re fighting him.

“No! Bucky!” Tony grips you tightly and flies off with you in his arms. The image of Bucky gets smaller and smaller until you can’t see him anymore. As soon as Tony sets you down, you’re running toward Bucky. Steve jumps into action and practically tackles you to the ground. “No! Let me go! Please! Bucky!!!”

“Y/N, stop fighting.”

“No! You gotta let me go. I have to be with him!” Suddenly, an explosion happens and you sob loudly. “NO! Bucky!!”

You fall to the ground in a fit of sobs at the loss of your boyfriend. Steve’s arms are still wrapped around your body to prevent you from going after him. As soon as one explosion happened, another one followed suit, and another one, and another one. The air is covered with thick smoke that is very hard to see through so you’re not sure if Bucky is even alive.

Everyone is silent for their fallen friend. The only thing that can be heard is your heartbreaking sobs.

“Look, I see something,” Clint points out something in the smoke.

You look up and see something emerging from the smoke. Once the smoke clears, you can see Bucky walking toward the group with his vibranium arm in his flesh hand.

“Did you really think I was gonna let a mine take me from my girl?” he coughs.

The spikes on his body open to welcome his arm and he locks it into place. He whips his arm around to make sure it’s on properly, and you scramble out of Steve’s arms. You run into Bucky’s arms and cry against his chest. You’re too overwhelmed to say anything but hug, kiss, and embrace him. When you’ve calmed down, you pull away from him and slap him in the chest.

“Never do that again!”

“I had no choice. I knew I could have survived but you wouldn’t have.”

“You could have at least told me that!”

“I didn’t know if it was gonna work or not,” he says quietly.

Everyone got what they needed from the minefield, so you head back to the Compound. You haven’t said one word to Bucky after leaving the minefield, and he hates when you give him the silent treatment.

“Doll, please talk to me,” he begs. He follows you into your shared bedroom, and you quickly head into the bathroom. Before he can join you, you close the door and lock it so he can’t get in. Of course, he can get in with his metal arm but he’s respecting your privacy. “I’m sorry, but I had to save your life.” He rests his forehead on the door and he can hear you crying softly inside. “Y/N, please come out.”

You don’t. He sits on the floor right outside the bathroom door and waits for you to come out. He sits there for hours waiting patiently for you to come out of the bathroom. When you do, you take a seat next to him on the floor.

“What we have is a partnership, Bucky.” You look into his eyes. “Your life isn’t fully yours anymore. You have my heart in your hand so if you die, then so will I.”

“The same thing goes for you, Doll.”

“If you would have told me what you wanted to do, I would have been more likely to go along with it. You have to be better at communicating. I will do the same.”

“Okay, you got it. Do you want to watch movies for the rest of the night?”

“Yes,” you smile.

x

Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary​​​​ where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

“I can’t sleep with you forever on my mind”

him (via bitemybxttomlip)

Honey Girl. Chapter Seven.

chapter one. chapter two. chapter three. chapter four. chapter five. chapter six. series masterlist. the playlist.

Chapter Synopsis - Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to. At least, that’s what you and Bucky keep telling yourselves.

Pairing - Dad'sBestFriend!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader - soulmate au

Warnings - smut. cursing. alcohol consumption.

Word Count - 4.8k

Author's Note - I can only apologise for the delay on this one angels!! january blues, a crazy work schedule, writers block.. they all came to play at the same time. but chapter seven is finally here!! I hope you enjoy it. thank you for the continued love on this - words can’t describe how incredible it is.

as always, if you enjoyed this, please consider reblogging!! reblogs are the only way to circulate my writing, which generates more of it. thanks, my loves!! <3

Masterlist. Inbox.

“Why aren’t you more surprised?”

Stella simply shrugs, sipping her cappuccino as if she has all the time in the world.

“Babe, with all due respect… I’ve been waiting for you to initiate this conversation for like two months.”

You look at her incredulously, fiddling nervously with a chip in the handle of your coffee cup.

“…Why? How?”

She smiles softly, reaching for your hand across the table.

“You’re miserable.”

You take a deep breath, and then another. After the fifth one, you find the courage to meet her eyes.

“How did you know?”

“Because I know you. You’re a hell of an actress, I’ll give you that.”

“It’s not you-”

“I know. Hey, I know. You don’t have to explain yourself.”

“I do.”

She waits for you, patient as ever. You’d be lying if you said the guilt wasn’t eating you up, slowly but surely from the inside out. You feel like you’ve let her down, disappointing the one person who’s given you your dream.

You realise, suddenly, that you haven't told anyone the full truth about everything. Not your Mom, not your Dad, not Lacie. Your Tethering, Bucky, the move to California - all your feelings and emotions over the past how ever many months have been bottled up and stowed away on a shelf, never to be opened. But you have the urge, now, to unscrew the cap and pour it out across the table, regardless of the mess.

So, you do.

"It's not you. You've given me everything I could have ever wanted, Stel, and I couldn't be more grateful. You know that, right?"

She nods, squeezing your hand.

"It's just been hard... emotionally. So, I, the thing is, I just..."

You inhale. You hold it for five seconds. You exhale.

"I'm Tethered. I have a soulmate, and he lives back home. We found out literally right before you called me and asked about the business. I couldn't turn you down, I knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I couldn't just let it pass me by. I knew we could do this, me and you, together. And I thought I’d be able to cope.”

You inhale. You hold it for five seconds. You exhale.

“Being away from Bucky has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. It’s like… I can’t breathe properly without him. Food isn’t as flavourful, colours aren’t as bright, the sun isn’t as warm. The separation is actually having physical effects that I’m not sure I can handle anymore.”

You inhale. You hold it for five seconds. You exhale.

“I’ve held out for as long as I possibly can. I was hoping that maybe it’d pass, that we’d get used to it and it’d all wear off. But it hasn’t. If anything, it’s worse than ever. The separation is ruining us both.”

You inhale. You hold it for five seconds. You exhale.

“I’m sorry. I know you’re going to tell me not to apologise, but I am. I’m sorry. You’ve given me everything and I’m just… quitting on you. I love this job so much, Stella. I can’t even find the words to describe how much. But I think either me or Bucky will break soon. And I have to prevent that from happening.”

You inhale.

Stella looks at you with so much compassion, you fight the urge to burst into tears.

You exhale.

“Listen to me, okay? You are one of the best damn bakers I have ever met in my life. No one in culinary school even came close to you. I always knew that I wanted you on my team, by my side, in my corner - in the kitchen, and everywhere else. But-"

You chew your bottom lip, wincing when you taste copper.

“We don’t have to be in each other’s pockets. We can be business partners and not see each other everyday. These are the joys of modern technology, babe. We can call, text, video chat, and then schedule in person meetings when we can. If anyone can make a cross country partnership work, it’s us. I mean, come on.”

The weight lifts from your shoulders, slowly but surely. A glowing, molten warmth trickles through your veins, hopeful and real and alive.

“And this,” she picks up your business plan, all printed and pretty. “This is air fucking tight. I’m not saying you picked the wrong career, but… business could definitely be your Plan B.”

You laugh, ignoring the way your voice cracks slightly, still choked with emotion.

“Babe, I was going to franchise the business eventually anyway. Sure, this is a little earlier than I first thought, but why the hell not? We’re successful, we’ve done so well… what’s stopping us? We know we can do this. And I trust you. So much.”

“Thank you,” you whisper, easing your death grip on her hand ever so slightly. “I thought I was gonna ruin everything.”

“You haven’t ruined anything, I promise you. This is a good thing.”

She thinks for a moment, lost in her own thoughts. Suddenly, she grins at you, nosy and mischievous.

“So a soulmate, huh?”

You groan, burying your face in your hands - but you can’t fight the smile that spreads across your cheeks.

“Yeah. It’s been… complicated.”

“He’s that super hot guy that came to see you, right? The one that looks like he could be a model?”

Laughing, you nod, making mental note to relay this to Bucky on the phone later.

“How did it happen? Was it like, a stranger on the street moment?”

“Nope,” you recall fondly. “We knew each other already. He’s my Dad’s best friend.”

Her jaw drops open, eyes flickering across your face.

“Holy shit.”

“Yeah.”

“Holy shit, babe.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s amazing. Shit, no wonder you’ve been under so much stress. What did your Dad say?”

“He… doesn’t know.”

“What?”

“We need to tell him, I know we do, but it’s just so complicated. I’m worried that it’ll change everything, and not for the better.”

It’s been eating away at you, lately. The fact that your parents don’t know originally made perfect sense, but now? It’s been almost a year. You’ve never kept anything from them for that long. Now, you’re worried that you’ll never be able to undo the damage of lying and keeping secrets from the two people you always promised never to do that to.

"Look, I know I'm not exactly qualified to give out soulmate advice, but... you can't change this. It's literally been written in the stars. Your parents will understand, okay? But the longer you wait to tell them, the worse it'll be."

“Yeah. You’re right. It’s just - it’s tough. It’s gonna change everything, forever.”

“But isn’t that the beauty of it? It’s going to change everything, forever.”

You jump out of your seat and wrap your arms around Stella, holding onto her as tightly as you can. She hugs you back fiercely, speaking a thousand words without saying anything at all.

“Proud of you,” she murmurs into your hair.

“For what?” you laugh.

“Putting yourself first. Your health, your mental wellbeing, all of it. I know it wasn’t easy.”

“Love you,” you whisper, fighting back tears of relief.

“Love you too, my baker extraordinaire.”

You sit back down and take a breath, deep and full. Relaxing into your chair, you allow yourself to finally think about the next steps.

“So, I was thinking about going home and scouting out locations. I have that list of places that you read over in the business plan, but I thought of a couple more last night a few miles further out. I’ve pre prepped a few days worth of our best sellers, so you should be good without me.”

“Of course, babe. I’ve circled a couple where I really liked the look of the listings you’ve printed, and written a couple of notes for you to look over - just logistical stuff. Go back home, see your family and your soulmate,” she smirks, raising her eyebrows suggestively, “and just relax. God knows the stress lately has taken a couple years off your life. Please, get those years back on the beach or with your man or something.”

You laugh, shaking your head. She’s right, though. The stress has been resting stagnant in your muscles, tight and wound, making everything harder. You can’t wait to sit on the sand in Bucky’s arms and feel the tension melt from your body.

“You’re the best, Stella. You know that right?”

“So I’ve been told. Many, many times.”

Hours later, Bucky watches you on video call, laptop propped up on the dresser as you pack your bags excitedly. He hasn’t stopped smiling since he picked up, anticipation of the future lighting up his bones.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

You show up at your parents house without warning.

You thought about calling first, but decided it’d be much more fun to surprise them. It’s a Friday evening, and you know they’ll both be sat out on the back deck, drinking wine and recapping their weeks. It’s getting warmer on the East Coast, the sounds of spring and summer slowly filtering through.

Your Mom throws open the door, her face lighting up with glee.

“Babygirl!”

She throws her arms around you, rocking you back and forth so forcefully you’re worried you might fall over.

“My baby,” she exclaims, beaming grin almost blinding you. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“It’s kind of a long story. I’ll tell you all about it.”

She grabs your face in her hands, forcing you to look her in the eyes.

“Are you okay?”

You nod, smiling as the setting sun warms your back.

“Yeah, Mama. I am.”

She believes you. For the first time in a long time, you believe you too.

“Come on. Your Dad is gonna be so excited to see you.”

You leave your bags in the car, prioritising seeing the man who’s currently shaking his hips to the soft salsa music that’s playing.

“Nice moves, Casanova.”

He whips his head around, laughing when he sees you stood against the doorframe watching.

“You like em? I need a partner, babygirl! Come on!”

He grabs your hands, pulling you further into the yard so you have more space. You take up a terrible ballroom dance posture with him, cackling as he dips you backwards and almost drops you.

“Don’t kill my baby, please Jack!” your Mom calls from the kitchen window.

She returns with a glass of pink wine in her hand, gesturing for you to come and get it. Your Dad spins you over to her, steadying your shoulders when you trip over his shoes.

“It’s like The Universe knew you were coming to us tonight, darling. We opened the strawberry wine and everything.”

“My favourite.”

You get comfy on the loveseat, sitting across from your parents who are pressed together on the outdoor sofa. The wine is sweet and sugary and exactly what you needed.

“So, what are you doing here, kiddo?”

“It’s a little… complicated. But the good kind of complicated, I think.”

You start at the beginning. Well, almost. You leave out the part about finding Bucky, waiting for him to be with you when you tell that part of the story. You agreed that you’d talk to your parents about your relationship together, and you’re not about to break that promise. You do, however, explain everything else to them.

They listen carefully, nodding and smiling to let you know they’re still with you. When you talk about the difficulties you’ve faced, they wear matching frowns as your Mom fights back tears. Eventually, you sit in silence, waiting for their reaction.

“I wish you’d said something sooner.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I just… I thought I could do it on my own.”

“Honey, you never have to go through anything alone. That’s what we’re here for - we’re like, your built in therapists. Both me and your Dad would have happily listened if you’d called us, no matter the time or place.”

“Thank you. Both of you.”

“So this means you’re moving home?”

You nod, trying to contain the excitement bubbling up inside of you.

“Well it’s a good job we didn’t end up renting your apartment, huh?”

“You didn’t?”

“We thought about it, but it didn’t feel right. And we wanted to see you settle down in California first, just in case. I don’t either of us were ready to see someone else in that place. It’s yours.”

“You big softie,” you tease, nudging your Dad with your foot. He grabs it and squeezes, laughing when you squirm out of his grip.

“Well this is a cause for celebration, isn’t it?”

When you were younger, you used to get embarrassed that your Mom would throw parties for everything. Now, it’s one of your favourite things about her. She’s taught you to embrace the joy of the little things in life.

“What are you thinking, Mama?”

“Tomorrow night, a few friends. I’ll make a big paella, we can drink wine, play cards… what do you say?”

“Sounds perfect.”

And it does. The ease of being back home has calmed you down, untied the knots in your shoulders. You feel warmed by love, from the inside out.

You leave your parent’s house, promising to make a dessert of some kind for tomorrow. As you drive away, you suddenly realise that you’re headed in the wrong direction. You’re not going home. You’re going to the person that feels like home.

Bucky.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

He’s waiting for you on his front porch when you pull up.

“Hi, honey baby.”

“Hi, handsome.”

You launch yourself into his arms, savouring the warmth rolling off of him in waves. He smells like fresh linen and sea salt and all your future plans.

“You felt me coming, didn’t you?”

“From a mile off.”

He’s grinning, beaming in all directions.

“Good job it wasn’t a surprise visit, huh?”

“There’s no such thing anymore.”

“Good.”

He grabs your face in his work rough hands, gazing at you as if you’re the sun. You realise, suddenly, that you are. You are the one thing that his world revolves around. And he is yours. Forever.

“You gonna kiss me, Buck, or just stare at me, hmm?”

He chuckles before leaning in to press his lips to yours. You sigh in contentment and pull him closer by his shirt, tilting your head back to let him slip his tongue into your mouth. He tastes like scotch and spearmint, a perfect picture of his evening.

“Have you been drinking alone, cowboy?”

“Needed some liquid courage. Knew you’d come by.”

“I make you nervous, huh?”

The filthy smirk written across your face sends electricity crackling across his skin, the hairs on his arms standing up.

“Thought you’d have figured that out by now.”

“You’re really blowing up my ego, you know. I make the Bucky Barnes nervous. Who’d have thought?”

He shuts you up by kissing you again, snaking his hands around your back to plaster your bodies together. You tangle your fingers in his hair, tugging on it slightly.

“You’re letting your hair grow.”

“You like it long.”

You stop for a moment, watching his face carefully.

“Yeah. I do. How’d you know?”

“You pull it more when it’s long. Can feel how much you like it.”

“You’re a menace,” you laugh. “How about you take me inside, and I’ll show you just how much I like it? Unless you wanna give your neighbours front row seats…”

He chuckles and shakes his head before throwing you over his shoulder, laughing harder when you start shrieking. He carries you over the threshold, a beautiful prediction of years to come.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

You and Bucky spend the evening in his kitchen with the windows open, watching the setting sun. The gentle ocean breeze flows through the room, tussling Bucky’s chocolate brown hair and glinting off the ice in his rocks glass.

“You want me to come with you tomorrow, when you scout locations? I’ll be your chauffeur, if you like.”

“What about work?”

“I’m the boss, baby.”

“So you keep reminding me.”

He kicks you lightly under the table, laughing when you stick your tongue out at him.

“Yeah, Buck. I’d love it if you came with. You can use your contractor knowledge and help me out.”

“It’s a date. You want me to bring my clipboard? Tape measure? Mechanical pencil?”

“You gonna bring your talking machinery too, Bob The Builder?”

Bucky stands from his chair and pulls yours out, wrapping his arms around your waist and picking you up. He spins you around before putting you down and dragging you up the stairs, kicking his bedroom door open.

He throws you onto the bed unceremoniously, chuckling when you almost bounce off. You toss your shirt at his face, before shucking off your jeans and doing the same thing. He catches them with ease, winking at you before undressing himself.

He crawls up your body, kissing any skin he can find as he goes. He starts at your ankle, before moving to your knee, your thigh, your hip, your stomach, your chest, your neck, and eventually your lips. You’re almost shaking, alive with the anticipation of having every inch of Bucky pressed against you.

“Tell me what you want, baby,” he rasps into your ear. “I’ll give it to you. Anything.”

“Just want you.”

“Need to get you ready first,” he murmurs, fingers trailing between your legs. His breath hitches when he feels how wet you are.

“Oh honey,” he groans. “You been like this all night? Hmm?”

“Since I first saw you waiting for me.”

He groans again, resting his head in the crook of your neck.

“Please, Buck. Just wanna feel you.”

Who is he to deny you when you ask so damn pretty?

“You’re killing me,” he mutters against your skin.

Bucky slides into you with one smooth thrust, biting down on your shoulder as he does it. You shudder at the feeling, and at the thought of having the imprint of his teeth on you later.

You both gasp, wrapping your arms around his neck to pull him in to you. You loop your legs around his waist, heels digging into his ass to press him even closer.

“Fuck me,” you choke out. “Need it, Buck.”

“My needy girl,” he chuckles lowly. “Gonna give you everything.”

Bucky retracts his hips before thrusting back into you, deep and full. You whine, and he’s convinced the sound will never be matched. It’s like angel song, rose tinted and heavenly.

He fucks you into the mattress, long, slow thrusts that make you want to cry a little. You’re not sure you’ve ever felt so connected to him - every single part of you touching his, bodies plastered together and souls intertwined.

He presses open mouthed kisses into the crook of your neck, right into your sweet spot. When he feels you getting close, he dances his fingers down your body and circles your clit, languid but precise. Your back arches as you find your release, clawing your nails down his back and locking your ankles around his hips.

“Oh fuck, honey - fuck.”

Bucky finishes with a shudder, sinking his teeth back into your shoulder. His raspy groans hit your ears just right, sweat dripping down onto your dewy skin.

“Love you, baby. Fuck, I love you.”

You’re both panting, trying to catch your breath as you come down from your highs.

“I love you too,” you giggle, pressing kisses to his damp forehead.

He collapses his weight onto you, chuckling when you groan. You push him off so he can lie next to you, strong arm thrown over your stomach as he pulls you in close.

You stay tangled for a while, letting the breeze from the window cool you both down. Bucky traces absentminded patterns across your back, rough fingertips sending goosebumps over your skin.

“I’m excited for tomorrow,” you murmur, keeping the volume low.

“Me too. Feels like a big step for our future, doesn’t it?”

“I just never imagined I’d have… this. You, the job I’ve always dreamed of… it doesn’t feel real. I mean, we’re going to look at places for a second location of my business. Who ever could have predicted I’d say that sentence?”

“Everything works out the way it’s supposed to. I told you that, that night on the beach. Before we knew. Remember?”

“I remember,” you smile, recalling that evening. You’d felt so inexplicably connected to Bucky that day. Little did you know what was to follow.

You fall asleep wrapped up in Bucky’s arms, warm and content.

You’ve never known happiness like it.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

The day flies by with Bucky by your side.

You’re a little out of your depth, admittedly. You don’t know much about real estate, or what makes a viable location for a bakery. But Bucky helps - explaining what to avoid, warning signs to look out for, checking out all of the boring stuff like gas mains and water pipes and backup generators. He never patronises you, even when you look at him like a deer in headlights. He clarifies himself when you become unsure, laying out explanations carefully and simply. He’s the perfect right hand man.

“You almost ready, honey?”

“Yeah Buck, give me one second!”

You walk into the kitchen where Bucky’s leaning against the counter, beer in hand. He’s in loose jeans and a linen button up, the white shirt beautifully showing off his tanned skin. He’s got several buttons undone, toned chest peeking through. He looks effortlessly perfect.

You stop in front of him, fixing the buckle on your sandals. You look up at Bucky to find him staring at you, open mouthed.

“You alright, handsome?”

“You look… you look - fuck, you look gorgeous.”

Heat rises up your skin, still so susceptible to his compliments.

“Thank you,” you whisper, leaning up to press a gentle kiss to his lips. “I love you.”

“Love you too,” he chuckles into your mouth.

Bucky rests a hand against the base of your throat, pulling you into him. His other hand plays with the hem of your dress, your skin burning where his fingers brush. You kiss him back harder, groaning when he nips at your bottom lip. He sucks on your tongue, and your knees buckle.

You pull back suddenly, putting three feet of distance between you.

“We need to go.”

Your hair is tousled, chest rising and falling at a rapid pace as you try to regain your composure. Bucky smirks at you, laughing when you flip him off.

“Come on. My parents and paella await us.”

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

Your Mom has done it again.

Golden lights adorn the beams of the deck, the table littered with flowers and wine glasses begging to be filled. There’s already a few people scattered around the yard, chatting and laughing in the warm evening air.

“Oh baby, you look so beautiful.”

Your Mom engulfs you in a hug, pulling back to look at you from a distance. You’re wearing a yellow sundress, form fitting in all the right places. The skirt blows in the gentle breeze, fanning around you like an angels halo.

“This place looks amazing, Mama. I made you a tropical tart - it’s pineapple and coconut, with a mango coulis.”

“Oh, it’s gorgeous. I’ll put it in the fridge and get you some wine, honey. Buck, you want wine or beer?”

“Wine, please Lori. You need a hand?”

“If you’re offering,” she winks, laughing when he pokes her in the side as they leave towards the kitchen.

“Your father says you’re moving back home.”

You turn around to see Cora looking at you expectantly. You haven’t seen her since the incident that evening months ago.

“Uh, yeah. I love California, but I think I outgrew it after culinary school.”

She nods at you in faux sympathy, overbearing and sickly sweet.

“Aw, sweetie. Sometimes, things just don’t work out the way we hoped, huh?”

“Mhmm,” you hum noncommittally. “Yeah, I guess.”

You look for an exit, but she rubs your arm in support, pulling you back.

“I saw you today, you know.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yes! Down on Maple, by the corner. You were with Bucky.”

You freeze suddenly, blood running cold. You and Bucky are always affectionate, whether you mean to be or not. It’s just the way it is, being alongside your soulmate. Of course, Cora doesn’t know this. All she’s seen is you, out in town with your Dad’s best friend, looking cosier than platonic.

Your ears are ringing. You wonder, for a second, if you’re experiencing deja vu.

“Yeah, he… he has contracting experience. Just needed a second opinion. I’m no builder, after all.”

You force a laugh, willing the ground to swallow you up.

“You two are friends? You seem pretty close.”

She’s watching you, waiting for a reaction. You don’t give it to her.

“I’ve known him for a while, I see him often. He’s a good friend to my Dad, so you can imagine we know each other pretty well by now.”

“Yeah. It sure looked like it.”

You’re wracking your brain, trying to understand what she saw. Then it hits you.

On the corner of Maple is a florist’s, alive with blooming flowers and plants of every colour. You’d been admiring the tulips when Bucky had wrapped his arms around you from behind, whispering in your ear about how you’re the prettiest flower of all, honey.

There’s no running away from this. She’s caught you, in broad daylight.

“We’re friends,” you reiterate, praying for mercy.

You shoot her a fake smile before turning on your heel, making a beeline for the kitchen to find your Mom. When you get there, you gulp down your entire glass of strawberry wine, begging the sugar to lift your mood and calm your nerves.

The rest of the night goes off fairly smoothly.

You eat paella and fruit tart, drink wine, laugh with your parents and their friends. Bucky occasionally slips a hand beneath the table, squeezing your thigh in silent reassurance. You tangle your fingers with his for a moment before letting go, praying everyone else is none the wiser.

Every time Cora opens her mouth, your chest constricts a little. But she seems to have learnt her lesson somewhat, only speaking to tell obnoxiously long and tangent filled stories and offer comments no one asked for. Eventually, you all disperse from the table, making conversation elsewhere.

“What’s on your mind?” a low voice rasps in your ear.

You’re sat on the swing in the corner of the garden, watching the world go by. Bucky snakes his arm over the back of it, fingertips brushing your shoulder.

“Cora saw us today. Think she knows.”

“She’s a fucking nuisance.”

You laugh, the sound vibrating through Bucky’s bones.

“Yeah, she is. She’s also a gossip. She won’t keep her mouth shut for long if she thinks she’s sitting on something newsworthy.”

He thinks for a moment, taking a deep breath.

“So we tell them.”

“So we tell them.”

You lean back into Bucky’s arm, inhaling the familiar scent of peace.

“We should do it as soon as possible.”

“How about tomorrow?”

You nod, biting your glossy lips.

“Yeah. We need to do it sometime, and we’ve delayed the inevitable for long enough. We’ll do it tomorrow.”

Bucky nudges closer to you, so your sides are pressed together.

“It’ll all work out the way it’s supposed to, honey girl.”

You smile gently.

“I know. I don’t think I believed you the first time you said that to me. But I do now.”

“You and me against the world, baby.”

“You and me against the world, Buck.”

It truly feels like it, at the moment. You and Bucky against the world.

tag list part one

@lillytracy6996 @securegorgon @roostersforevergirl @povlvr @val-writesstuff  @dreadfulxives18 @1deadpool26 @abbygraceasd @nyutasgirl @mavrellover91 @winterslove1917 @f-this42 @skewedcherries @noisesinthedark @kandis-mom @black-cat-2 @harrystylesandthegoobs @vladsgirlxx @h0nestly-though @arienotari @nash-dara  @wandaneedstherapy @galaxy-dusk @justherefortheficandsmut @cremebruleequeen   @cjand10 @buggy14 @avengers-fixation @blueberrybambi @beautiful-loserr @sarah1barnes @miss-rebel-without-applause @ragingrainbowshipl @shamrockqueen @savemeroman @jenn-f @8crazy-freak8 @daddyjackfrost @openup-yourmind @adangerousbalance  @mandijo17 @daddylorianisastateofmind @rcarbo1 @casa-boiardi @spideegwen @navs-bhat @mssbridgerton @asuni921 @middle-of-the-earth @mfrnchsk