🔥 Smut  || 💧  Angst/Hurt || 🖤  Non-con/Dub-con || ❤ Romance/Fluff || Humor 😂

the barnes’ au

bucky barnes has settled down, living in a beautiful home in new orleans with his wife, a former avenger. these are the different stories of how they navigate being superheroes, spouses, and parents.

THIS SERIES IS CLOSED. you can still send asks but no one shots will be written about this series

note: the race of the people in the moodboard are not a reflection of reader, but are a reflection of the author. i write and create in my mindset, but leave the actual description of reader vague (this is something i am actively trying to become better at so older writings might not best at this) thank you for reading :)

headcanons (in chronological order)

the first time you met bucky

steve catches you and bucky having sex

bucky finds out how your powers work

bucky meets your ex-boyfriend

how bucky found out you were pregnant (both times)

bucky isn’t comfortable with you fighting while pregnant

@rosierose-e ‘s take on you during tfatws

you move in your new home

bucky during the birth of grant barnes

grant likes to lay on bucky’s chest

bucky likes how sensitive your nipples are

bucky likes watching you breastfeed

giving bucky some well deserved attention

bucky loves giving you and your baby kisses

baby grant barnes loves bucky’s metal arm

bucky sings and help baby grant (and you) sleep

grant is teething and bucky’s metal arm helps once again

you and bucky start trying for another baby

you get alpine!

you look adorable with your baby bump

you get hurt while pregnant with becca

you give birth to becca

baby becca likes to pull bucky’s long hair

bucky comforts you about your body insecurity

grant gets in a fight at preschool

grants starts calling you baby doll

field trip w/ grant

bucky breaks his wedding ring

grant and becca put magnets on bucky’s arm

the barnes’ take care of you when you’re sick

halloween with the barnes’

you get flirted with at school event

becca has a crush

becca and grant squabble

all the dads have a crush on you

a glimpse at grant and becca’s teenage years

you get subby for bucky

the kids walk in on you and bucky

you and bucky are a power couple

grant is your baby boy

you tell the kids you’re pregnant

you get cravings at 3am

bucky tells the kids about his past

grant yells at you

grant’s friends think you’re hot

you can’t stop lactating and bucky helps you

becca is insecure

becca’s first break up

becca finds out you dated quicksilver

grant starts dating samantha wilson

grant ask bucky for sex advice

bucky pours his heart out to grant

the barnes twins

one shots (in chronological order)

the fall

the journey

maniacs

faq

bucky’s favorite positions (visuals included)

tags for this au:

#the barnes’ au

#babydoll’s past

#the barnes’ vacay

Metal Arms and Shorts Skirts [masterlist]

summary: waltzing in as the new head of the Avenger's medical division, impressing everyone, and... scaring Bucky with your incredibly short skirts. Bucky's having a hard time looking at his arm as anything other than a deadly weapon, and you're more than happy to help him.

series playlist | read on AO3

[chapter one.]

bucky barnes and his wandering eyes

[chapter two.]

turns out Natasha is alway right

[chapter three.]

mission gone rogue and it looks like bucky has a new look.

[chapter four.]

being fashionable late, make out sesh and assholes.

[chapter five.]

Bucky finds a new home in you

[x] a small bump

[TBA.] new uniform

📥 Inbox is open for drabble or headcannon request!

Old Souls Masterlist (Completed)

Summary: Your aunt runs an antique shop in the lower parts of Manhattan, and asks you to work in her shop once a week. You happily take the job, but then on your first day you have a strange encounter with an unusual customer - Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier. Things ensue as the two of you end up becoming friends - and maybe even more - as you reminisce about the old things that you love as well as your mysterious pasts.  Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader

Part 1 

Part 2 

Part 3 

Part 4 

Part 5

Part 6 

Part 7 

Part 8 

Part 9 

Part 10  

Finale

People wait all week for friday, all year for summer, all life for happiness.

(via neutral)

I would commit CRIMES if it meant he would kiss me like this

H.C.M.C Masterlist || COMPLETED

Pairing: Biker!Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: Reader is new to Brooklyn and after an incident at the garage belonging to Howling Commandos Motorcycle Club, her life is changed forever.

Series Warnings: Violence, blood, knives, guns, smut, death

Club Members

Clubhouse/Lot

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

I Can Do More

Summary: Request! The team underestimates Y/N's strength until one day when her powers save them all.

Warnings: slight violence and mention of injuries

Word Count: 2717

a/n: You're basically the avatar in this fic. You're welcome :) lol

Masterlist

"What am I supposed to do?" You asked as Steve finished explaining everyone's role for the next mission.

Tony and Sam were air support, meant to keep on eye on the perimeter and notify the ground teams of any surprises. Bucky and Nat were approaching the west entrance, Steve and Wanda the east, and finally Vision and Peter the north. The quinjet would be parked on the south side, where the building had no entrances.

"Guard the quinjet." Steve answered automatically.

"But, I really think I can help with more than just-" Your attempt at arguing for more responsibility was interrupted by nearly everyone in the room.

"Y/N, you're not ready." Steve's voice echoed louder than the rest, although nearly everyone murmured in agreement.

It was the same for every mission you went on. If it was a short mission, like the next one, you were meant to guard the jet. If it required multiple days in a hotel, you were on surveillance. No matter how simple the mission, you were basically told to "wait in the car" every single time.

You officially joined the avengers 8 months ago when you prevented a sinkhole- caused by a new Hydra weapon- from killing civilians in a small town in Europe. Despite only gaining more control since you began training with the team, almost none of them seemed to think you were capable of actually joining a mission.

"But, I've been training-" Again you were cut off.

"Trust me, it's better to wait until you've got complete control. Otherwise people could get hurt." Wanda's eyes seemed to hold a sadness as she spoke, but you weren't given time to further inquire.

"We leave in half an hour." Steve announced to the room before departing to make final preparations.

You slid down in your chair like a child, if they were going to treat you like one you might as well act like it. Hell, you're a fully grown adult capable of creating a tsunami, but everyone acts like you're a toddler who still needs training wheels.

With a final huff of annoyance, you got up to get ready for the mission. It felt like a waste to get fully dressed in the uncomfortable tac gear when you wouldn't even be leaving the jet, but you did so anyway. No need to give them more reasons to leave you behind.

The ride in the quinjet was filled with whispers, each sub-team going over their plan of attack. You sat in the back alone, watching as everyone else prepared to fight. As Steve landed the jet, you tried your hand one more time.

"Cap, are you sure I can't do anything?" You asked again, trying your best to not whine. To your surprise, Tony answered before Steve could finish his typical dad sigh.

"Y/N, right now all you need to do is stay here. Got it?" He sent you his patented glare before flying out the door. Sam at least had the decency to direct a sympathetic smile your way before following.

"He's right. Just wait for us to come back." Steve secured his shield before descending the ramp, Wanda at his side.

"We'll be back soon, doll." Bucky squeezed your hand before leaving. Unfortunately for you, not even the physical contact and pet name from your not-so-secret crush could lift your mood.

You and Bucky walked a fine line between friends and, well, more than friends. The flirty comments, pet names, and not so innocent touches were common place, yet the two of you still doubted the others feelings.

"Sorry, Y/N." Nat grimaced at leaving you behind. At least you had one of them on your side.

You watched as the rest of the team moved into position, leaving you to watch the feed Tony projected onto the monitors of the jet.

Each team of two flawlessly executed their plans, infiltrating the base at exactly the same time. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until all of the video feeds you had access to cut out.

"Tony, the video's gone. Is everything okay?" You tried to spot him or Sam from the ground outside the jet, but neither flyer was visible.

"Tony? Cap?" You asked into the comms again, panic slowly rising.

You were about to ask again when a sharp cry blasted through your ears. There was no way to be sure, but it sounded like Peter.

Without another thought, you ran from the quinjet towards the base. If your team was in trouble, then you couldn't just sit and watch.

You ran through the woods until the base was in clear view. Scanning your surroundings, you spotted three pairs of guards making rounds on the perimeter of the base. With a few simple hand movements, you knocked them out with various flying rocks.

After another quick scan, you made your way to the closest entrance on the West side of the building. Various guards were laying strewn about the area, dead or unconscious, you couldn't be sure.

The door creaked slightly as you opened it, but luckily nobody was waiting on the other side. Twirling your finger, you created a ball of air to float you down the corridors, preventing alerting anyone of your presence via footsteps.

It also made it easier for you to hear when Hydra agents were approaching. You incapacitated each agent with a swift bolt of lightning to the heart, easing them to the ground with pillows of air to prevent any noises from giving away your position.

You slowly made your way to the center of the base, listening intently for any sign of your team.

About 15 minutes, and 30 hydra agents later, you could hear Tony's familiar sarcasm.

"Well, if I could reach it, I wouldn't have asked you!" He whisper yelled.

You scoped out the room as best you could, but since Tony was talking it was easy to assume it was currently void of any enemy combatants.

"Tony! Sam!" You dropped to the ground in front of them, clearly surprising them with your entrance.

"Y/N! What the hell are you doing here?" Tony's volume rose slightly, but Sam was quick to shush him.

"The video feed went down and nobody was replying on comm's." You moved to untie him, but halted when he whisper yelled again.

"You're supposed to be in the quinjet! It's not safe in here." His glare only fed your anger, but you didn't have time to fight with him on this.

"No shit, you're tied up." Your response earned a snort from Sam and another glare from Tony.

Before you could move to untie him again, the doors swung open. You retreated to the shadows, again floating on a ball of air.

A group of twenty Hydra agents lead Steve, Bucky, Wanda, Nat, Vision, and Peter into the room. Wanda and Vision were both rendered unconscious. The rest had clearly taken a beating, but were awake. Steve's shield was thrown into the corner with Tony and Sam's suits, and Bucky's arm rendered immobile with an electromagnet.

The Hydra agents quickly tied up the rest of the team, leaving you to wonder what the hell happened that got everyone caught. It was easy for you to see that Tony and Sam were trying to clue the rest of the team as to your whereabouts, but with so many agents in the room they couldn't get the message across without giving you away to everyone.

With bated breath, you decided you needed a plan. First, you had to free everyone from their bindings, including Bucky's arm. Next, they needed their weapons. Then, you need an escape plan. If there are twenty agents in this room alone, getting out with such a large group was not going to be easy.

You looked around the room for anything that could help, eyes focusing on the skylights in the roof. Clearly, this room was not meant for holding prisoners.

With a plan in your head, it was time to act. Luckily, your tac suit is equipped with elemental weapons.

You reached for the stones in your belt that were sharpened to act as knives. With one hand, you weaved the stones around the room, cutting through the thick ropes binding the avengers. At the same time, you sent bolts of lightning through all the hydra agents in the room.

As soon as they fell, more agents were piling in. Following through the steps you outlined in your head, you created balls of air to carry the team's previously discarded armour and weapons to them. One whip like blast of air separated the magnet from Bucky's arm, rendering it operational again.

Both sides watched with varying expressions as you controlled the elements to free and arm your team. As more agents poured in through the various entrances, you shouted to Tony.

"Did you get what you came for?"

With wide eyes, the man nodded.

"Looks like we're out then." You flung rocks through the skylights, before creating balls of air for your team. Each member quickly flew through the new holes in the ceiling, escaping from the assault of bullets from the Hydra agents.

Once outside, you set down anyone who could walk, maintaining the balls of air for Vision and Wanda. You lead them toward the jet, signalling for the rest of the group to follow. As you ran from the base, you shot blasts of fire into the main gas lines, not turning back as the base exploded.

Once back to the quinjet, Steve immediately took off while you slowly lowered Wanda and Vision to the beds in the makeshift medbay onboard. Wanda appeared to be knocked unconscious from a blow to the head. The rest of the team watched in starstruck awe as you hooked her up to the vital machines, sighing with relief at a steady heartbeat.

Vision had some sort of device attached to the mind stone, appearing to put him into a coma like state. With careful movements, you used whip like motions to separate the device from his head, another sigh of relief escaping when he woke up.

"Wanda, where's Wanda?" He questioned immediately. You gestured behind him, where Wanda was recovering.

"Y/N..." Tony spoke first, eyes still wide. Steve was now looking at you as well, having set the course for the jet to return to the compound.

You turned to look at the rest of the team, each member wearing matching expressions of awe and surprise. Bucky's eyes looked the softest.

"Sit down." You commanded to them. They complied instantly, still shocked at everything that happened.

You grabbed the first aid kit, working your way through the various gashes and scrapes each avenger had received. You cleaned up wounds on Tony, Sam, Steve, Peter, and Nat before finally making your way toward Bucky.

You took a step toward him, stumbling slightly from exhaustion.

"Carefull, doll." He caught you, helping you into a chair. You closed your eyes briefly, humming in agreement to Bucky's command.

When you opened them again, everyone- barring Vision, Wanda, and Peter, who was now taking a nap- was still staring at you.

"What?" You grimaced, slightly uncomfortable with all of the attention.

"What? What!" Bucky exclaimed incredulously from next to you. "Y/N, you just single handedly saved all of us! From at least 50 agents!"

The rest of the team nodded, still at a loss for words.

"Well, I told you I was ready." You huffed, still miffed from their dismissal of your abilities.

"Damn, straight. Should've let you in first." Sam quipped, eyes beaming at you.

"Y/N, I'm so sorry." Steve's apology rang clearly through the near silent jet. Tony followed immediately with an apology of his own.

"Me too. Kid, I'm sorry we doubted you." Tony stared at the ground, guilt radiating off him in waves.

"I, for one, never doubted you." Nat cut in. "I didn't, however, know you could do that." She smirked, eyes twinkling with pride.

"Thanks, Nat. And apologies accepted." You smiled at everyone, too exhausted to hold a grudge. "But, I think I need a nap." You yawned through the words, leaning into Bucky and instantly falling asleep.

-

When the jet landed it jostled you awake. You were still leaning against Bucky, his metal arm wrapped protectively around you while his flesh hand ran through your hair.

"Hi." You gave him a sleepy smile, blinking repeatedly to wake up. "Oh!" You suddenly remembered Wanda being unconscious. "Do you need me to get Wanda inside?"

You turned to look at her, surprised to see she had already woken up. Even more surprising, she immediately embraced you in a hug.

"Thank you. Clearly you have complete control." She gave you a small smile.

"Of course, anything to help you guys." You smiled at the team, finally feeling as if you were one of them.

Everyone left the jet, grumbling about food and showers. You and Bucky walked slowly behind them, arms swinging next to each other.

Suddenly, Bucky grabbed your hand, pulling you to a stop just outside of the jet's entrance.

"Y/N, you fell asleep before I got to say it, but thank you. And, I'm sorry too. I should've stuck up for you. Clearly you're more than capable of helping us on missions." He spoke clearly, but refused to make eye contact.

"Buck, it's in the past. You all know now, so I'll never have to babysit the jet again." You smiled happily, grin widening when he chuckled.

"I mean it though. Thank you... Watching you was incredible. I don't know how long it took you to plan everything, but clearly you can think on your feet because we weren't in there for more than five minutes before you had us flying through the ceiling." He laughed slightly, clearly still in awe of your powers.

"It was nothing. Any of you would've figured out a way to free everyone." You shyly muttered back, still unused to the praise.

"No, Y/N. What you did was amazing. Yeah, maybe we could've found a way out, but you freed us and nobody was seriously injured. Plus, you still managed to complete the mission." He finally met your eye, clearly waiting for you to just accept the compliment.

"Thank you." You still smiled shyly, but there was no use in arguing.

"You amaze me more and more each day." He whispered, so quietly you almost missed it.

"What do you mean? You've never seen me use my powers before?" You furrowed your brow, tilting your head in curiosity.

"Christ, you're adorable." His hand moved to cup your cheek, thumb brushing over the soft skin. "Even without your powers, you amaze me. You've always been the kindest person here. Always willing to help someone, even if you're in the middle of something yourself. You're beautiful, and smart, and funny, and just... incredible." His words trailed off, voice thick with emotion.

"Bucky..." You looked at him with wide eyes, lip quivering from trying to control your own emotions.

"Can I kiss you now, doll?" he asked, moving even closer. You nodded, breathing out a soft reply before closing the distance between you.

You could've spent forever kissing him under the stars if the sound of someone clearing their throat hadn't disrupted you.

You broke apart to find the one and only Steve Rogers staring at the ground with a blush on his cheeks.

"What do you want, punk?" Bucky held you close, eyeing Steve with a playful glare.

"I, uh, I left my shield on the jet." He gestured behind the two of you to the entrance you were partially blocking.

Wordlessly, you stepped to the side, pulling Bucky with you. Steve nodded in thanks, still blushing as he boarded the jet.

"Well, that moment was officially ruined." Bucky sighed, hand running through his hair.

"I think it was pretty perfect." You smiled, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. He groaned when you pulled away.

"C'mon, Sergeant. I wanna watch a movie and cuddle." You pouted, pulling his arm until he followed you.

"Anything you want, doll. It's yours."

From the jet, Steve smiled to himself, knowing Bucky would follow you across the world if you asked.

Permanent:

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Marvel:

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Honey Girl. Chapter Three.

Chapter One. Chapter Two. Series Masterlist. The Playlist.

Chapter Synopsis - You and Bucky get closer. Your choice only gets harder.

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

Word Count - 6.4k

Age Rating - 18+

Warnings - smut. cursing. angst. alcohol consumption.

Author's Note - angels, i can only apologise for the wait!! i've had some stuff going on, and i was on vacation, so this has taken a while. thank you so much for your patience, kindness and support on Honey Girl - it means everything.

as always, reblogs, comments and feedback (even anonymous feedback!!) are immensely appreciated!! your reblogs are the only way to circulate my fics, which keeps me going <3 please, send me your thoughts, predictions, desires!! i will get excited with you!!

Masterlist. Inbox.

The sunlight seeps through the stained glass windows, murmured chatter echoing off the stone walls around you.

You smooth down your dress and adjust your bracelet, smiling at the rare sight of your family and friends all gathered together in one place. Your parents are sat on either side of you, all of you eagerly awaiting the beginning of this exciting occasion.

Man, you love weddings. You always have. So much happiness and joy in one short day, everyone excited about the possibility of eternal love.

You're still sat waiting when you realise, with quiet uncertainty, that you're not sure who's wedding this is. All of your family is here, as well as many of your friends. So why do you feel so confused all of a sudden?

The Priest gestures for all of the guests to stand just as the first notes of the Wedding March begin to reverberate around the room. You turn around, craning your neck to try and get a glimpse of the bride.

You don't know her, but she's... beautiful. Long, dark hair falling in waves over her shoulders, white silk dress hugging her frame perfectly, accentuating every dip and curve. She has kind eyes, warm and brown, and a blinding smile that's infectious and dazzling. Her skin glows in the stained glass sunlight, illuminating her in an ethereal radiance. She has a beauty that belongs on the cover of a magazine, or on the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel.

You eagerly turn back towards the altar to find out who her lucky groom is. He has his back to you, dark suit stretched across his broad shoulders. He turns, and you can't help the gasp that escapes your lips.

It's Bucky.

You're panicking, suddenly. You want to scream, shout, run over to them and object in any way possible. Your Mom grabs your hand tightly from one side, as your Dad does the same on the other.

"Mama, I have to-"

"You can't, sweetheart. It's not fair."

"You made your choice," your Dad says kindly, not an ounce of malice in his voice. "Now you have to let him make his."

White hot tears drip down your cheeks as your chest rises and falls with frantic frustration. This isn't how you wanted things to go. This wasn't supposed to happen.

The lights in the church are suddenly too bright, the wooden pews too hard. There's an incessant knocking noise coming from somewhere in front of you, loud and overwhelming. You swear someone's shouting your name in the distance, among all of the chaos.

"Honey? It's Bucky. Are you okay?"

Why is he asking if you're okay? Of course you're not okay, you're in this living nightmare.

Nightmare.

You're having a nightmare.

You wake with a startled gasp, cheeks wet and warm, sweat dripping down your back. The knocking hasn't stopped, in fact, now it's even louder.

"Sugar? Are you in there? Can you let me in?"

It's Bucky. Bucky's here.

You throw yourself out of bed and race through your apartment, swinging open the door. Bucky is stood on the other side, still in his navy plaid pyjama pants, sweater thrown over himself haphazardly. You look down at yourself and see that you're only wearing an old t shirt, legs bare and feet cold on the wooden floor.

"Are you okay?" he asks gently, stepping forward into your space. "I had this horrible feeling. It was like... like I was panicking. I knew it wasn't me so I figured it must have been you. What's wrong, sweets?"

He snakes his fingers around your wrist and pulls you into him gently, wrapping his arms around you completely. You relax into his embrace, inhaling the warm, cosy scent of him. All the fear leaves your body, and you cling to him tighter, worried that he'll disappear any minute.

"I had a nightmare," you whisper into the soft cotton of his chest.

He pulls back to look at you, large, calloused hands cradling your tear stained cheeks.

"You wanna talk about it?"

You deliberate for a second before shaking your head softly.

"If you change your mind, you know I'll always listen to you. Any time. I mean it."

"I know," you say quietly. "Thank you."

You step away from him and towards the couch, where you curl up with your legs tucked underneath you. Bucky walks over to the kitchen, filling the kettle and placing it on the stove. He makes two mugs of tea, handing one into your outstretched hands carefully. He shuffles to sit next to you, pressed into your side, arm slung around your shoulders. You relax into the broadness of him, the comfort he brings, the safety. The two of you fall asleep intertwined, warm and content, wrapped completely in each other and the blanket of your love.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

You're both startled awake by a phone ringing. The unwelcome melody is coming from somewhere between where you're nestled together, limbs intertwined and bodies connected.

"It's-fuck- is that mine or yours?" Bucky's mumbling as he scrambles amongst the couch cushions.

"Yours, I think," you reply, finding your phone on the floor where you've kicked it in your sleep.

Bucky finally finds the source of the noise, trapped in the arm of the couch. He presses the green button reluctantly, still disorientated from being woken so suddenly.

"Hello?"

That deep, raspy grumble of his morning voice is enough to make you melt back into your original position, the tone golden and honeyed. You slide back towards him and tuck yourself into his side, the two of you fitting together perfectly.

You can hear muffled talking on the other end, which takes Bucky a minute to comprehend. When he does, his eyes widen, and he looks at you like a deer caught in headlights.

It's your Dad, he mouths silently, muscles in his body going rigid.

Fuck, you mouth back, praying that he can't hear the two sets of heaving lungs on your side of the line.

"Yeah, of course. I'll be there. Sounds good, man. See you then."

Bucky's about to hang up the phone, when your Dad makes a noise of complaint. You can hear your Mom yelling something at him in the background.

"They're coming here," he whispers to you as quietly as possible, covering the phone speaker. "Fuck, what do we do?"

"Tell them you're already here... borrowing something. Or giving something back."

You shoot him a look that says trust me. Trust you, he does.

"I'm with her right now. I can ask, if you want? Yeah, just dropping off a couple of tools - last time I saw her, she mentioned a few loose screws in one of the kitchen cabinets. Easy fix."

You can hear your Dad singing his praises and expressing his gratitude, and your Mom asking Bucky to put you on the phone. He passes it to you carefully, as if it's a bomb, bound to explode at any given second.

"Hi, Mama."

"Hey, sweetheart. Bucky get everything sorted for you?"

"Oh, yeah. He's been great. Fixed it in two minutes flat. I just didn't have the right kind of screwdriver."

"He's one of the good ones, huh?" she chuckles. "We called to tell you that you have to come to our get together later. I know it's a little impromptu, but we have so much produce from the garden, too much for just us. We'll have dinner in the backyard, and drinks, and play some games. And we'll tell you all about the wedding!"

Your Mother has a gift for hosting. She's a people person through and through, warm hearted and kind spirited in nature. She loves having people over at the house, loves cooking for them, loves choosing wine pairings for her dishes and explaining each one carefully. It's a gift. She's a gift.

"I'd love to come, Mama. Do you want me to bring anything? I can make desserts?"

"Oh, darling, would you? I'm making a strawberry and cream tart, but you know it's nothing compared to your talent."

"Oh hush," you chide playfully. "I'll see what I can conjure up. Maybe I'll even rope Bucky in to help."

You wink at him cheekily and he laughs, the sound settling gently in your ribs like a caged bird singing it's morning song.

"Glad to be of service!" he yells into the phone, his right hand moving to rest at the nape of your neck. He massages the muscle there gently, and the tension leaves your body just as quick as it arrived.

"What time, Mama?"

"Everyone's arriving at seven o'clock, but you and Bucky feel free to come any time. Did you hear that, Bucky? Any time!"

"Loud and clear," he chuckles. "See you soon, Lori."

"Bye, you two. Call if you need anything. Love you, sweetheart."

"Love you too."

She hangs up the phone and you're plunged into silence, the two of you panting like you've just ran a marathon.

"Fuck," Bucky breathes.

"Yeah, fuck," you exhale. "Now my parents think I'm not capable of fixing a loose screw."

"It was the first thing I thought of! Sorry, honey. Didn't mean to undermine your DIY skills."

You fake angry, but you can't keep it up while he's looking at you like you hung the moon just for him. The corners of your lips twitch, and before you know it, you're grinning at each other like idiots.

"Now I have to make dessert," you laugh. "There go my plans for the day."

"You offered."

"I panicked!"

"I'll give you a hand, if you need it. I don't have to be at work for another hour and a half."

"It's okay," you reassure, reaching out to link your fingers with his. He's still absentmindedly tracing patterns across the back of your neck, the sensation almost soothing you back to sleep.

You relax into Bucky, and he pulls you into his chest, wrapping his arms around you. He's so warm, and soft, and broad. You realise that there's been two occasions recently where you've slept like the dead. Both were in Bucky's arms.

"You wanna help me make breakfast?" you whisper, careful not to disrupt the golden glow of the morning sunlight. The orange hue of the room feels fragile, sacred even. You don't want to ruin it.

"Of course. I can't bake, but I can cook. I have my uses."

"That, you do," you tease, leaning back into him as he places a tender kiss on top of your head. If you could bottle up this feeling of complete tranquility, you would. For a moment, everything else disappears. It's just you and your soulmate. Nothing else matters.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

Bucky, as it turns out, is a decent chef.

Sure, he's not Michelin star level, but neither are you.

You're sat on the counter, bare legs dangling over the side as you watch him move around your kitchen with ease, as if it's his own. You can't help but notice the way he belongs here. Like he's been here all along.

Bucky leaves everything cooking on the stove to come to stand in between your legs, warm hands splayed across your thighs. He rubs comforting circles into your skin while his steely blue eyes look at you intently.

"You okay?"

You smile at him softly, draping your arms around his neck to play with his hair.

"I'm fine."

You're not fine. The words California and Bakery and Dream Job and Bucky keep circling around your mind like horses on a fairground carousel. The more time you spend with Bucky, the more your Tethering makes sense. The two of you work. This connection you have is made of threads of gold, braided into both of your souls.

"You've been quiet all morning. And... I can feel it, you know. This anxious, sinking feeling, deep in my chest. There's something really bothering you, honey."

You take a deep breath and grasp onto his shoulders tightly, grounding yourself back down to Earth.

"I'm okay. There's just a couple of things I need to work out, and I think they're giving me some anxiety. I'm just stressed, I think."

"Are you trying to convince yourself, or me? Because you're not doing a very good job of either."

He's only teasing, but the way he's looking at you makes your breath hitch. It's as if everytime he looks into your eyes, he's also looking into your soul. It's like he can read your mind. Your heart is covered in braille and he's running his fingertips over it gently. You suddenly feel very exposed, shrinking down into yourself on the counter.

"Hey, pretty girl. Look at me. Please."

He uses his finger and thumb to tilt your face towards him, holding onto your chin gently.

"I'm sorry. I'm not trying to push you, or anything. I'm just worried. It's weird, being able to feel what you feel. I think I'm still getting used to it."

You smile at him carefully, running your fingers over the stubble on his cheeks.

"I appreciate you looking out for me, Buck. It's just... overwhelming, I guess. Nothing's a secret between me and you anymore."

You both know that's not true.

"You know, if there's anyone who understands how you feel... it's me."

"You're right," you laugh, "on account of the whole half-of-my-soul thing, I guess."

"Exactly. It's scary, but you're not alone in this. The two of us will figure it out. I know we will."

He has so much faith in you it makes you want to cry.

You wrap your legs around his waist, pulling him in closer to you. He leans down and presses a sweet kiss to your lips, firm and reassuring. It's like he's reminding you that he's right here, in front of you. He's not going anywhere.

You might be, though.

"We've got all the time in the world, remember?" he murmurs against your mouth.

"All the time in the world," you echo, tucking your head into his chest.

He holds you close until your breakfast starts to burn. The impending fire on the stove is nothing compared to the impending fire that feels like your future.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

The two of you eat on your balcony, tangled together on the love seat chair. The sun is beating down, beams of light illuminating Bucky, setting him aglow. He looks like an angel, the golden hue creating a halo around him. You wonder for a second if he is. An angel sent just for you.

"Oh hey, did I tell you?" he asks, turning as much as he can in his spot to face you.

"Tell me what?"

"Leonie and Eli are having a baby."

"No way!" you exclaim, grabbing a hold of his hands in excitement. "I'm so happy for them. Man, it feels like yesterday that they found each other."

"Right? Hell of a story, too."

"Rough one, though. I mean, imagine it. You introduce your brother to your new girlfriend, and turns out they're soulmates."

Bucky's laughing so hard that he's clutching at his stomach, shaking the chair and you along with it.

"That's fucked," he wheezes. "It's so fucked."

You can't contain your own laughter, not when his is so contagious.

"It's not funny," you breathe, but you're giggling so hard your sides hurt.

"Not funny at all," he chuckles, pinching your thigh.

"If you think about it, our Tethering is a little fucked up too. I mean, you're my Dad's best friend."

"Yeah... not ideal, huh?" he teases, still laughing.

"Not ideal at all, really," you agree playfully.

You sit in the quiet for a moment before you speak again.

"What do you think they'll say? When we tell them, eventually?"

Bucky thinks for a moment, cogs turning in his brain. He considers carefully before he answers you.

"...I think they'll be happy for us. Your Mom'll be excited. It might be a little harder for your Dad to navigate, I guess, but... he'll be okay."

"Yeah. You're probably right."

The rational part of your brain is telling you that he is. They'll be ecstatic that the two of you have found your person. The celebrations will be endless.

But there's a tiny, nagging piece of your mind that won't let you rest. It's taunting you, telling you that they're going to be confused, shocked, upset. That they won't accept the two of you. You can't lose them over a soulmate. You won't.

You clear your throat and stand from your spot, picking up your empty plates.

"Don't you have to be at work soon? I doubt you can show up in pajamas."

"I'm the boss, pretty girl. I can wear whatever the hell I want."

You raise an eyebrow at him, and he relents.

"Fine. I need to change. But I'll see you later? At your Mom's?"

"Yeah, of course. I'll see you there."

You walk Bucky to the door, opening it expectantly. He looks at you for a moment too long, still unconvinced by your reassurances from earlier.

"If you need anything, just call me. You know you can talk to me anytime, yeah?"

"Yeah," you confirm, absentmindedly playing with the hem of his t shirt. "I know, Buck. Thanks."

He leans in to kiss your forehead before leaving you in the doorway, more confused than ever.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

You commit your day to baking your feelings away.

As soon as Bucky left your apartment, the space felt empty, incomplete. Much like you do. As much as you hate to admit it, you feel better when Bucky is around. You know it's the whole Tethering thing, but still. Your heart feels fuller, the world seems brighter, the sun on your skin is warmer. Everything's easier when your soulmate is next to you.

You click on the radio, a soft, jazzy melody filling your kitchen. You begin to measure your ingredients, picking up bowls, utensils and your piping bags as you go.

This is the only thing you've ever felt like you were made to do. Sure, you've had hobbies as you've grown up. You're a good swimmer, you enjoyed soccer, you weren't too bad at dance. But nothing compared to baking.

Which at first, sounded ridiculous. Grown ups would ask you what you wanted to be when you were older, and when you said Baker, they'd laugh in that patronising way that adults do. It didn't stop you, though.

Your Grandma bought you a half empty recipe book for your tenth birthday. You can create your own and add them, she'd said. You'll be publishing a book with your name on in no time.

Your parents took you on a European vacation when you were sixteen. In Amsterdam, you passed this tiny little bakery, tucked away down a back street. It was red brick with a big window in the front, showcasing the cakes and endless sweet treats they had to offer. When you peered through the glass, you watched as the woman who you assumed was the owner went about her day. She looked so happy to be serving her customers. You decided then and there that was going to be you one day. A Bakery of your own. A happy life.

Which is why you're having such a hard time. You haven't talked to Stella since she called you, and you're worried she's going to change her mind if she doesn't hear from you soon. You haven't talked to Bucky about it either, even though he presented you with opportunity after opportunity this morning. It's starting to feel like the walls are caving in.

So, you do what you do best. Bake.

The day passes by quicker than anticipated, lost in a cloud of cinnamon and powdered sugar. You're wiping down your counters when your phone rings, Bucky's name lighting up your screen.

"Hi, Buck."

"Hey, pretty baby. You want me to pick you up later? I'm passing your place anyway."

He's always thinking of you so selflessly. The thought makes your heart stutter for a moment.

"You sure you don't mind?"

"Course not. I can drop by at six? Gives us enough time to help your Mom set up."

"Sounds perfect. Thanks, Buck."

"See you then, honey."

You hang up the phone and realise the hours have completely escaped you. You jump in the shower and do your hair and makeup in record time, miraculously. You're stood in a towel in front of your closet when you feel Bucky pull up outside. The tension in your chest eases a little, and you take a deep, full breath. He knocks on the door, and you completely relax.

"Hey, you," he greets, leaning in to press a kiss to your cheek.

You take a step back to look at him, and almost lose your balance. He looks ridiculously handsome. He's wearing a dark short sleeve button up that hugs his biceps so tightly, you're worried it might burst open. His jeans cling to his thighs deliciously, and the leather jacket slung over his shoulder adds a ruggedness that most men couldn't pull off. Your eyes rake over him slowly, taking him in from top to bottom. He lets you devour him, smirk never leaving his lips. Eventually, you meet his gaze.

"You see something you like?"

"You clean up real nice, Barnes," you tease, wrapping your arms around his neck and pressing a sweet kiss to his lips.

You untangle yourself from him before you jump his bones, and walk back to your closet. He follows you and sits on the edge of your bed, watching your every move like a hawk.

You pick out a sage green sundress that skims your thighs and hugs you in all the right places. It's a warm night, and your Mom loves to start a bonfire when it's cold.

"Close your eyes, playboy," you scold jokingly, laughing when he flops backwards to stare at your ceiling.

You slip the dress on, and realise it has a zipper at the back that you can't reach.

"Buck? Can you zip me up, please?"

He rises from his spot on the bed and strides over to you, standing a little closer than necessary. He pulls the zip upwards ever so slowly, fingertips brushing your spine as he goes. He's so warm and so broad behind you that it sends a shiver through your body.

Bucky brushes your hair to one side and leans down to press a featherlight kiss the place where your neck meets your shoulder. You hum in contentment, which only spurs him on. He begins to leave kisses wherever he pleases - your shoulder, your neck, behind your ear. You practically melt into him, and he wraps his arms around you to keep you steady.

"You look so beautiful," he murmurs against your skin. "Prettiest girl I've ever seen."

You smile at his words, leaning your head back to rest on his shoulder.

"Says the man that looks like a goddamn supermodel."

"Oh, angel. Now you're just lying to me."

His chuckle rumbles through the both of you, the sound lighting up your nerve endings.

Your eyes flick across the room, where you notice the clock on the wall.

"Baby," you whisper. "You gotta stop. We're gonna be late."

He groans lowly and lets his head loll into the crease of your shoulder.

"I was fine until you called me baby," he murmurs. "Now that's all I'm gonna be thinking about for the rest of the night."

"Sorry."

"You're not."

"I'm not."

You both laugh and untangle yourselves, you moving to put on your shoes while Bucky straightens himself out.

"You gonna be able to keep your hands to yourself, lover boy?"

"I'm gonna have to," he grumbles, trying to hide the smile that's fighting to take over his face.

You lean against him as you do up the straps of your shoes, dancing your fingers down his arm to interlink your hands.

"Ready?" you ask, looking up at him with big doe eyes.

"Ready," he confirms, leaning down to kiss you chastely.

"A night of pretending that we're not soulmates. How hard can that be?"

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

Pretending that Bucky isn't your soulmate is one of the hardest things you've ever done.

You haven't even made it inside yet.

Buck parks his truck in your parents driveway and turns to look at you. You've been silent the entire ride over, and it's making him anxious. He reaches over and places a warm palm on your bare thigh, thumb rubbing patterns back and forth.

"You okay?"

You take a deep breath, which is all the answer he needs.

"It's alright, baby. I'm nervous too. We've got this. We're alright."

You look into his eyes for the first time since you were in your apartment, and have to fight to stop yourself from crying. You nod and bite your lip, inhaling and exhaling carefully.

"You're okay. I promise. It's me and you, honey girl. It's me and you."

You want to crawl over into Bucky's lap and bury your face in his chest. You want to curl up in his strong arms and let his scent envelope you. You want to tangle your fingers into his hair and smash his lips to yours, until you don't know where you end and Bucky begins.

Instead, you bring his hand from your thigh to your lips, and kiss each of his knuckles tenderly. The gesture makes his heart beat so fast, he's a little worried he's about to pass out.

"Come and talk to me anytime tonight, okay? I've got you. I've always got you."

You nod again, and take another deep breath.

"I know, Buck. It's the only thing I'm sure of."

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

"My baby!"

Your Mom smothers you in a hug the minute you knock on the door, almost tipping you over in the process.

"Oh, you look so beautiful. This colour is gorgeous on you, sweetheart."

The heaviness of your heart gets a little lighter at the sight of your Mother. She's magic like that.

"Thanks Mama. Is your skirt new? It's pretty."

She gives you a twirl, the skirt billowing around her like a princess. Both you and Bucky smile when you catch each others eyes briefly.

"I got it on our trip! Your Dad got a new shirt too - he looks so handsome."

She's grinning from ear to ear talking about him. Your smile only gets wider.

Bucky gives your Mom a one armed hug, and hands her a white box with a bow on.

"I wish I could say this is from me, but I don't have nearly enough talent for that."

"You're plenty good at other things, Buck," she laughs. "What's in here, sweetheart?"

"Apple, carrot and cinnamon cake with cream cheese frosting. I piped little bunny rabbits on top, too."

Before she can say anything else, you take the box from her hands and walk into the house.

"We better put this in the refrigerator before the frosting melts!" you call as you leave.

"Come on Buck, let's get you a drink. Jack bought your favourite."

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

Your parents backyard looks incredible.

Golden fairylights adorn the deck, illuminating the dining area that your Mom has set up. The table is covered with a white lace tablecloth, and littered with tea lights and candlesticks. Each place setting has a wine and a water glass ready, fringed cushions perched on each wooden chair. There's a beautiful bouquet of flowers in a stained glass vase as the centerpiece, more flowers scattered across the entirety of the table.

The sun hasn't set yet, and the entire garden is dripping with the glowing orange hue of the evening. The air is warm and calm, salty ocean breeze only disrupting the peace occasionally. If summer were to be summed up in a night, it'd be this one.

Your Dad is pouring water into all of the glasses from an ornate painted jug when you walk into the yard.

"Hi, Papa."

"Oh, sweetheart!" he smiles in surprise, abandoning his task to come and give you a hug. "You look amazing. I like your dress."

"Thank you - hey, is this your new shirt? It suits you!"

"It's nice, right? Your Mom picked it out. She said the colour brings out my eyes."

You look him up and down comically, crossing your arms over your chest like a cartoon detective.

"Hmm... she's right. It definitely does."

You're both laughing when your Mom and Bucky join you, the two men immediately smacking each other on the back affectionately.

"Where you been, Buck? Work keeping you busy?"

"Stupidly busy - you wouldn't even believe."

"Well, it's your night off, so no shop talk!" your Mom encourages, handing Bucky a beer.

"Easier said than done," he winks, and your breathing picks up just a little.

"Mama, do you need help with anything in the kitchen?"

"Oh, yes please, sweetheart. Come, let me show you what needs doing."

The two of you leave the men to catch up, walking inside to prep the appetisers.

You're slicing tomatoes carefully when you turn to watch your Mom for a minute. She's chopping up basil, completely engrossed. The evening sun beams in, illuminating her as she stands by the window. You love her so much it makes you unsteady on your feet.

"Hey, Mama? Can I talk to you about something?"

She turns and immediately stops what she's doing, giving her full attention to you.

"Of course you can, baby. Anything at all."

You take a deep breath, and carry on slicing while you talk.

"So, you remember Stella, right?

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

The night goes off without a hitch.

There's good food, gorgeous wine and even better company. Your parents invited many of their friends, meaning twelve of you are sat around the meticulously prepared table. In between courses, there's conversation, laughter and games, everyone letting go of the stress of the week.

You're doing everything you can to avoid looking at Bucky. You're worried that if someone catches the two of you, they'll know everything. You're surprised you haven't confessed already, the weight of the secret too heavy to bear.

Your Mom is cutting your cake on the table when there's a sudden commotion.

"Oh, fuck!"

"Shit! Shit, I'm sorry. Shit."

"Is everyone okay?" your Mom asks, flitting to the other end of the table.

"I'm so fucking clumsy, my God. Dropped my wine straight onto Bucky," Jesse, one of your Dad's oldest friends, explains.

"As long as it doesn't stain my white tablecloth, we're fine," your Mom laughs. "What do you need, Buck?"

"It's only white wine, luckily, so no stain. I'm just wet. I'm gonna go dry off."

"I have a hairdryer?" you offer without thinking.

"Good idea, honey. Go help Bucky upstairs while I get some paper towels."

You rise from your chair and make your way inside, heart racing as Bucky follows you. You rummage around the drawers of your childhood bedroom, certain you used to keep all of your hair tools here somewhere.

"You got it?" a warm, whiskey smooth voice asks from behind you.

"Got it," you reply, standing up with the hairdryer in your hand.

Bucky kicks the door closed behind him, and takes a step into you.

"I can't focus on anything when you're sat there in that dress," he murmurs. "Look like a fuckin' angel, all pretty under the lights."

Heat blooms over your chest, and you pray he doesn't notice. Your breathing quickens, and you step forward too, now chest to chest with him.

"I'm so worried that I'm going to accidentally blurt it out," you confess. "You're the only thing that's on my mind."

Bucky leans down to press his lips to yours, smiling into the kiss. You fist your hands into his shirt and pull him closer, snaking your tongue into his mouth. He tastes like mint and sugar and every kiss for the rest of your life.

He groans when you bite his lip, nipping yours back in retaliation.

"Easy, baby," he warns teasingly. "I can't go back down there black and blue."

You roll your eyes and kiss him harder, practically melting when he grabs at your ass roughly.

"What do you need, pretty girl?" he questions against your mouth. "I'll give you anything."

You're panting against him, vibrating with need.

"Need you to take the edge off," you whisper, hands shaking as you unbutton his wet shirt. "Can't carry on like this. Please, baby. Please."

"We've gotta be quick," he reminds, sneaking his hand under your dress to tease you over your underwear.

You grab at his shoulders for leverage, almost certain your knees aren't going to hold out long enough. Bucky doesn't even take your panties off, just slips his hand down the front. It feels filthier this way.

"Fuck," he groans. "This all for me, honey? You been thinking about this?"

"Yes," you whine. "All I've thought about."

Bucky wastes no time, slipping a finger into you easily. After a minute, he adds another, setting a steady rhythm immediately.

"Shit," you breathe, leaning forward to rest your forehead against his chest. "We're supposed to be taking it slow."

"You want me to go slow?"

"No, fuck," you say immediately. "Don't stop. Please."

He chuckles lowly, clearly enjoying the effect he has on you.

"I won't, baby. Almost there."

It should be embarrassing, how quickly he can take you to the edge, but you don't care. This is what having a soulmate is. They know you better than anyone - inside and out.

"So close," you whisper.

"I know, pretty baby. I can feel it. Stay quiet and come for me. That's it."

You can't hold out when he uses that tone with you. You're thrown over the edge, your climax running through you like molten honey, hot and delicious. Your knees buckle, and Bucky uses a strong arm around your middle to hold you up.

"There we go," he's murmuring. "Atta girl. That's my girl."

You wrap your arms around his waist and breathe him in, finally coming back to your senses.

"My parents are gonna wonder where we are," you realise. "Grab your shirt and the hairdryer. You're gonna have to do it while I recover."

Bucky smiles at you with so much affection, the world stops spinning for a second. This is a moment of bliss. The two of you revel in it.

Bucky dries his shirt while you go back outside, trying to keep suspicion to a minimum.

"Fixed, sweetheart?" your Mom asks, holding out a piece of cake to you. You take it gratefully and sit back down, relaxing into your chair.

"Yeah, it's basically dry. That hairdryer is old, so it's taking a while."

"Well you didn't miss much, other than Jesse telling the Joshua Tree story for the fortieth time this month," your Dad laughs.

"You love that story, asshole!" Jesse yells, just as Bucky re-enters the garden. He throws you a mischievous smile, which you reciprocate with ease.

Everyone is a little more careful with their wine as the night goes on, keeping all the glasses planted firmly on the table.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

"So then I said, well, if you don't like it, leave!"

You're pretty sure you've heard your Mom's friend Cora tell this story before, but you're all laughing like it's the first time. She has such an animated voice, you're convinced you could listen to her read the phone book.

"Which, I mean, I didn't think he would. Imagine breaking up over a chinchilla! A fucking chinchilla!"

You're laughing so hard your sides hurt. You look over to Bucky, and see that he's grinning like a Cheshire cat. You could get used to this.

"So I watched him pack his shit, box by box. Which took fucking ages, by the way. He was using those big plastic boxes, you know the black ones? And he was filling them so carefully and so slowly, that I started helping him!"

You wipe a tear from your face, still doubled over in amusement. You're gonna be sore tomorrow, the way your abs hurt now.

"But I didn't want him taking those boxes, because they're nice, right? They're expensive, and they're mine! So I helped him move out, and then unpacked all of his shit so I could have my boxes back."

Your Mom, despite hearing this story before, hasn't taken her eyes off Cora the entire time. She's such a careful listener. It's one of the things you love most about her.

"Oh, I'll drop them off for you, if you like!" Cora yells, staring directly at you. Everyone turns to look at you in confusion.

"Why would she need all your boxes?" Jesse laughs.

"For the big move!"

Time stands still. The world goes silent. Your heart stops beating.

"...What move?" Bucky asks, never taking his eyes off you.

"To California! Her dream job, falling in her lap. We're so proud of you, babygirl. You've worked so hard for this."

Cora's tearing up now, the alcohol catching up to her. She raises her glass high in the air.

"To our little superstar. The best baker the world has ever seen! Cheers!"

Everyone clinks their glasses together in the middle of the table, except for you and Bucky. You haven't taken your eyes off each other. The world carries on, but you stay still.

You suddenly feel a cacophony of emotions - sadness, anger, betrayal, hurt and confusion settling like ten tonne weights onto your chest. Then it hits you - you're feeling what Bucky feels.

You feel a heart break.

You're not sure if it's yours or his.

tag list part one -

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