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fortune-maiden · 2 years

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This week’s lyrics challenge from @veraverorum :D

To speak the truth / this lie was meant to be

Souvenir – dePresno

Once again I have strayed from the xisang part of this challenge. And also the word count part of this challenge. And even the mdzs part.... but I had fun writing this and I’ve wanted to do this kind of scenario for a while.

Enjoy Pei Ming & Shiblings things

(although it’s not really a happy fic)

AO3

On the last day of autumn, Pei Ming’s evening routine is shattered by the heavenly realm shaking. The bell’s loud toll in the distance rouses heaven’s officials from their palaces, its excitement amplified by the swirling gusts of wind.

In the capital’s center, a new god ascends. Their appearance is met with loud fanfare and chatter and a huge crowd has formed by the time Pei Ming arrived. As he makes his way through for a better look, he catches snippets of various conversation.

“Which new god is this?”

“Can’t you tell from the wind? Must be an elemental.”

“A new Elemental Master? Are they now complete?”

“No, we’re still missing…”

“Who would have guessed it’d be you?”

From that comment, Pei Ming gathers the new Wind Master is an appointee from the Lower Court, and wonders which Upper Court mentor to later send his congratulations to. It’s a big honor (and ago boost) to have a junior ascend.

Yet when he finally lays eyes on the official in question, he is confused.

It’s none other than Shi Qingxuan he sees, a jar of wine in his hands, looking around blearily with a flushed grin. He waves at the crowd and cheers with them, but it’s unclear if he understands he’s the one they’re cheering for.

Shi Qingxuan – the new Wind Master.

Pei Ming can’t believe it either. He scans the crowd and sees the usual expected faces, but not the one that should be at the very center with his little brother.

Shi Wudu is nowhere to be found.

Pei Ming does eventually find Ling Wen, standing to the side and catches her attention, mouthing to her his confused concerns. She too is a friend of Shi Wudu’s and someone who’s spent enough time around Shi Qingxuan. She too should know that something is off.

Yet Ling Wen only shrugs passively at him, watching the scene without a trace of confusion.

Or even surprise.

Pei Ming feels his blood turn to ice.

----

“What did you do?”

The first chance he gets, Pei Ming gets Shi Wudu alone and confronts him. It’s easier than he expected; to Shi Wudu’s credit, he doesn’t try to rebuff the visit. He lets Pei Ming barge into his home and back him against the wall, unflinching when Pei Ming’s rage-filled fist slams against it, shaking the palace.

He had expected it, and replies back with a calm defiant,

“General Pei can’t guess?”

“He can. He has. You – you’ve gone too far this time!” Pei Ming shouts. In a quieter voice, though no less intense, he adds. “Qingxuan isn’t able to ascend.”

It’s obvious to anyone who spent enough time with him. He may have been a well-meaning, kindhearted individual but he lacked the qualities one would find in a typical heavenly official. No matter how many spiritual devices Shi Wudu showered him in, he never showed a hint of that divine potential.

Shi Wudu’s expression darkens.

“Who gets to decide that? You?”

“Not you!” Pei Ming snaps back. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? What the consequences will be? To go against the heavens and alter fate –

“Better those consequences than a wretched end,” Shi Wudu cuts him off sharply. “If the general came here to lecture me, he should save his breath. It’s already over and done with.”

Pei Ming shakes his head. “What’s over and done with is your – both of your divinities if this gets out! Ling Wen’s too.”

“She made her choice.”

“And where was my choice?”

“If we’d told you, you would have been opposed.”

“Obviously! Stealing someone else’s ascension? Did your brains turn into clouds up here? That someone else just went through a fucking heavenly tribulation only for another to ascend. If he finds out –

“He’s dead,” Shi Wudu answers simply. Pei Ming freezes as this information sinks in, then remembers how conspicuously absent the Water Master was for his own brother’s ascension. Shi Wudu then pounds another nail into the coffin. “His name was Xuan.”

“Xuan? But that’s…” Pei Ming’s voice trails off the full implication of what Shi Wudu had done dawns. Stealing an ascension? That wasn’t right – Pei Ming isn’t sure anymore if that was intentional or a lucky bonus. What was intentional was something far worse!

“Where’s the Reverend of Empty Words now?”

“Who cares?”

Pei Ming grabs the collar of Shi Wudu’s robes and slams him into the wall. His mind and body boil with rage, burning away all rational thought and the only thing he sees before him is Shi Wudu’s defiant face challenging him to act.

In the next moment though, he is suddenly pushed aside with such violent intensity that it nearly sends him to the floor.

“What are you doing!” a new voice shrieks in a panic and brings Pei Ming back to his senses. Another figure in white stands in front of Shi Wudu now, his arms stretched out protectively.

Anger shows differently on Shi Qingxuan. Where on Shi Wudu it is a slow-building fury, on Shi Qingxuan it’s explosive and frightened. He breathes heavily as he stares down Pei Ming. Pei Ming realizes he’d spent all of his newfound spiritual power into that shove.

“Go back to your room,” Shi Wudu says calmly from behind him. He straightens out his collar as though nothing had happened. “You’re interrupting.”

“No way! I heard shouting and…” Shi Qingxuan doesn’t move and doesn’t look away from Pei Ming. When Pei Ming moves, he raises his arms even higher.

With Shi Qingxuan before him, dressed in rich white silks that sit big on him, Pei Ming doesn’t feel that blinding rage anymore. He doesn’t know what he feels right now.

A low, sarcastic “Congratulations, Wind Master,” is the only thing he remembers saying before storming out the door.

---

“What’s your problem?”

Many days pass before he sees either of the Shi brothers again, and in the end Pei Ming is surprised that it’s Qingxuan who comes strolling onto his training grounds, walking through the lines of soldiers who part for him and not wasting a moment with his accusation.

Pei Ming dismisses the soldiers. On his lips is a quip about Shi Qingxuan inheriting his brother’s manners but he does not want to think about Shi Wudu.

“How can I help you?” he says instead.

“I asked you first,” Shi Qingxuan replies. “I demand an explanation for the other day.”

“What did your brother tell you?”

“Only that you’re upset.”

“Then he can tell you the rest.”

“Like I can’t tell figure it out myself? Stop dragging him into this. This is between you and me!”

Hardly, Pei Ming thinks. It isn’t even between him and Shi Wudu. When he had cooled down, he realized there was nothing between him and anyone. He wasn’t a consideration at all. Shi Wudu never trusted him. Not enough to protect his brother, and not enough to include him in his alternative plans.

That hurt the most.

Shi Qingxuan however, is even more ignorant of his brother’s schemes than him. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be badgering Pei Ming.

“What did you figure out?” he asks dryly.

“You think I’m not worthy of being the Wind Master,” Shi Qingxuan says. “That I’m just some spoiled kid who ascended because of Ge’s gifts. I’ve seen the way you look at me, don’t lie.”

“I –

“And if you want to think that, fine! But don’t take it out on ge,” Shi Qingxuan finishes. “Some friend you are.”

“Oh no you don’t. You go ask your brother what kind of friend he is.”

“A miserable one! He’s been upset ever since you left!”

Upset about his secrets getting out likely. Pei Ming knows how Shi Wudu operates. The first thing he did when he returned to his palace that day was tell all of his juniors not to accept any gifts from the Water or Wind palaces. He won’t be bribed.

“I really thought better of you, General Pei,” Shi Qingxuan continues, his voice full of betrayal. “To think that you would be so petty about someone else’s ascension. Maybe I didn’t go through multiple wars like you, but did I not work for it too?”

Pei Ming is quiet for a long time. “Is that what you think of me?” He doesn’t know if he should be insulted or hurt.

“I think you’re jealous that I beat back that thing myself,” Shi Qingxuan says. Pei Ming settles for hurt. “I’m finally free. Why can’t you be happy for me?”

Would you be happy if you knew what I know? Pei Ming wants to snap, but the words won’t leave his lips no matter how he shapes them.

He never held any intention of revealing to the world what Shi Wudu did. It’s only Qingxuan he can’t get out of his head. Qingxuan who truly believes in his own ascension, who’s always had absolute faith in his brother, and now has some in himself. Qingxuan who for the first time can live his life without fearing the shadow lurking behind him.

Qingxuan who would be destroyed by the truth.

“Yeah… you’re right,” he finally says, and pretends the hurt on Shi Qingxuan’s face doesn’t affect him. “The Wind Master is a big responsibility for a brat like you.”

If Pei Ming had known Shi Qingxuan didn’t have the potential to ascend, won’t someone else notice it too? How long did Shi Wudu think he could get away with his deceit?

“I’ll prove you wrong,” Shi Qingxuan replies. His eyes are clear and honest.

“Good. And do so without relying on your brother.” It’s the only advice Pei Ming feels he can give. He hopes Shi Qingxuan will listen.

Shi Qingxuan for his part nods, an aura of cocky defiance all around him, but the tension in his form remains. He didn’t come here for himself.

“I’ll go see your brother,” Pei Ming promises, if only to tell him Shi Qingxuan won’t be learning the truth from him. As far as he’s concerned, the deed is done. The rest, he’ll let be.

“If you try to touch him again, I’ll shove you off the edge of the capital.”

“Then you’d better start training.”

#Heaven Official's Blessing #tian guan ci fu #tgcf #pei ming #shi wudu #shi qingxuan #fortune's fanfics #peixuan #(kinda... i'm still tagging it since no one other than me really uses that tag anyway)#(I think one of the understated tragedies of the fate swap is sqx genuinely thought he ascended and escaped the roew on his own.)#(Also it’s not clear from PM’s pov but SWD is genuinely more upset about their friendship than his secrets getting out.)#(i'd like to think that while PM knows about the fate swap he wasn't involved in it because it just doesn't fit with what we know about him)#(my headcanon is he figured it out later when it was too late to do anything and was Not Happy)#(but he forgave swd eventually (since it wasn't his place to judge)... but their fight permanently soured his relationship with sqx)#(who got to see a scary side of pei ming he wasn't prepared for :D)

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concubuck · 2 years

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Minnie the moocher!

I love Calloway! I've got a hell of a Cab Calloway record collection, in fact—but never mind that, I'm getting off topic. It's about time we got a decent suggestion in here! I was starting to think it was nothing but people who think I don't know a juvenile meem when I hear one!

#((for anyone who WASN'T around last year: his 'hell of a record collection' comes from his alternate Cal—))#((—who broke into heaven to get Cab Calloway's whole discography autographed for Buck. Buck didn't even ask him to; he just Did That))#((this is actually why Cal's nickname is Cal.))#((ANYWAY this is actually the first suggestion i got but i couldn't answer it until i drew this lmfao))#art #anonymous #ask #on air and online (broadcasting)#live and in person (face to face)

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adammilligan · 2 years

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i WISH we would've gotten a michael wing reveal scene like we did we all the rest of the other archangels including au!michael but it kind of was more in-character for him not to show them because michael has always been reserved. he has never once on the show tried to overly flaunt his power he justs uses it as he deems fit. he always appears silently and without warning and even in the one or two moments he has where he could be considered dramatic he's always very quiet about it. it wouldn't make sense for him to have a scene where he's just showing off his wings like the rest of them especially when you consider au!michael who WAS loud and dramatic and showed them way too often. but a girl can dream

#i don't think he feels the NEED to is the thing. he's always been very self-assured in his power he doesn't need a grandiose moment to #unleash the wrath of heaven onto someone #there wasn't a single moment on the show where he attacked someone that he gave any warning of doing so!#he just. attacks. warning shot be damned. he doesn't NEED to flaunt anything #and anyway it's more fun because that means that any type of adam-wing interaction like michael covering him with them #is ten times better. because it means that adam gets to see them!#azure rambles #michael

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keeps-ache · 2 years

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hats are pretty neat things. how many kinds of hats are there? some are Plops, some are Brimmed, some do not serve any Practical Function, some are not even Fashionable but they're Funny To Look At, some are Very Big! and some are So Small you have to pin them to your head! hats are neat :)

#just me hi #i wasn't even thinking about clothing how did i get to this #hm. anyway!#i do like brimmed hats! but for the wrong reason maybe :)#i'm on the shorter side of height so if i pull the hat further down to my forehead i can straight-up Avoid Looking People In The Eye #this is a life hack no one has figured out before :)#it makes me 400% more comfortable in public #you're telling me i don't have to look at people if i wear a baseball cap?? holy heaven's harolds sign me up!!#who's gonna tell me to look people in the eye when i have to crane my neck like crazy to even look at them?? no one!!#unfortunately there's something about Objects That Are Only On Your Person For A Short While that makes me lose track of them very very #easily :/#bags and jackets and Hats. so tragic #i had a jacket i liked and i lost it!! D:#it was like fall jacket and it was winter so probably for the better but!! DDD:#i don't like winter coats!! i feel stuffed and heavy and all too hot and everything SUCKS in a winter coat :(((#but here's the thing is if you give me a fall coat during the winter i will not fricken complain because i prefer THAT to being a #Human Pillow!#as long as my hands feet and chest are covered i'm SO peachy #i am the happiest little thing when i don't have to wear a WINTER COAT in the cold :/#only time i appreciated it was when it was like -20 degrees and i had to wear like 3-4 layers lol #but yeah!#where was i going with this again #hm.

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upwalkers · 2 years

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I have enough warrior cats oc settings already but now I kind of want to come up with a setting where the current cats are legends far in the past and the clans are pretty different from the actual social structure they have now. like a soft reboot sort of thing.

But then you also get into issues with warrior cats' religion already appropriating indigenous people and how a lot of fantasy religions in general come across as stereotypical, so I would be worried about perpetuating that by accidentally playing into stereotypes. I'm thinking something more along the lines of folk heros than the previous cats being part of an actual Religion or anything like that but still.

#'i have enough warriors oc settings already' i have. one. but that's enough #and old stains i guess but old stains is its own thing now. it and warrior cats went through a divorce #there's no organized religion in old stains anyway after the rewrite #the setting for Talon/Spottedtalon's story is just kind of. we turned the catholocism up to 11 #reading it really does feel like there's some internalized catholic bullshit going on #it's the way leafpool almost didn't get into heaven for having kids with someone she wasn't supposed to #and how they don't really do redemption arcs just 'they were good inside all along' arcs #which is not to downplay how much this series appropriates from indigenous cultures #but i keep reading it and being like 'hey authors. just out of curiosity. are you catholic.'

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defiant-firefly · 29 days

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(I've had my chatty medicines so you get a post about this)

There is something distinctly and uniquely alienating and bizarre about hearing people say 'Easter Sunday is the most religious day of the year'. Like, when was this?? If it's so religious and so so so important, how come no one thought to tell me it was religious until like four or five years ago?

Yeah it's kinda funny but I'm also sat there every time like "what the fuck are you talking about". The assumption I was raised Christian and am Christian via culture is really funny though cause like. Bro I have no fucking clue what any of this stuff is about.

My parents never taught me the majority of this shit. Anyone else assumed I already knew about it. This Easter talk I've been hearing about a weird amount more than normal is all new to me and making me think of all this shit lmao

#no I'm not joking about only realising it was religious a handful of years back #but it IS weird to see people talk about what MUST be my default beliefs given my country and just #very little of it being true?? I don't see a lot of this talk at the moment I just heard my dad talking about easter and it got me thinking #so don't mind me really but like.#as an example of what I mean. its assumed christian cultures push the belief of going to heaven when you die #it's probably true! but not for me. I was raised to belief that when you died you became a star in the sky #specifically on the first night you were the brightest star in the sky so everyone could see you #APPARENTLY this is greek?? I dunno man but it's not heaven lmao #there were loads of little every day things I remember seeing a while back that were listed as this stuff too #and I don't remember them at all but there were only a few there that I recognised as my own beliefs #i feel like i was raised culturally... i guess blank? so I picked up my own beliefs over time??#does that make sense?? is that a thing?? actually wondering if it's just me that gets this #cause it was only two years ago I found out valentines was a saints thing #wondering if anyone else was just raised with a 'I dunno its whatever' thing instead of a culturally religious thing #cause it IS weird seeing posts treating this knowledge as something everyone has I dunno #but ANYWAY it's funny sitting there while people are stunned you didn't know about the 'most religious day of the year'#my mans my only religious experiences were very VERY brief and I was mostly annoyed I couldn't eat the gummy bears on the impaled orange #what in the fuck is that about btw??? honestly what's the deal with that one???#why is there a whole service revolving around an orange with a bunch of cocktail sticks in it???#I don't even remember when that was I think it was end of the year time or something???#there was nothing to do so obviously my child self wasn't interested at all in anything but the orange #I need to look this up now I guess but without the context I'm supposed to have apparently this genuinely sounds batshit insane #I don't remember what I was talking about imma hit post and forget this whole thing and not reread anything #firefly life #<- probably. I don't remember

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bravevolunteer · 11 months

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michael has so many nightmares... almost if not every night,,

#this shouldn't be a shock at all but yeah. he does not sleep peacefully most of the time!#one of the reasons why his sleep schedule is so bad...it affects him less post scooping bc he doesn't necessarily *need* most basic #things to function anyway but the nightmares don't go away either #they started after the bite of 83 (although that wasn't Every night yet.. at least after some time passed) and felt almost karmic...#something about making fun of evan for being scared only to end up being the one constantly waking up afraid... thought to spin in my head #yea unfortunately he just keeps getting more material!#⁂ ･ﾟ: i was looking for a job‚ and then i found a job‚ and heaven knows i’m miserable now ➛ ooc

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rubys-domain · 7 months

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also hey; long time no crit update

#⇢₊˚⊹ 🩷∥ruby∥yo，ide yo !!#the initial post was getting too long with reblogs so consider this the >100k log #they're 100% because of abyss buffs but idc #other players eat sleep and breathe abyss anyway. so as far as i'm concerned this is fair game #the 126k did come from lyney #but by some ridiculousness it might actually be possible that the 144k came from chong??????#it's very hard to tell tho since i suck at looking at numbers on the screen. and chong's team was basically number spam to the heavens #i feel like there's no way in hell tho. he wasn't even on 4pc blizzard strayer and therefore didn't have his crit dmg circlet #(i was supposed to switch to that build but i forgot until i was done. rip)#so yeah it's most likely still from lyney #and what i thought was 144k on chong's side was probably just 14k and i just didn't see it very well

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sweatervest-obsessed · 4 months

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Unexpected Visitor

Pairing: Spencer Reid x G!n Reader

WC: 788

A/N: A lil Spencer Xmas Blurb while I figure my shit out. Also! I'm imagining older seasons Spencer for this one.

"Hi! I'm, uh, so sorry to bug you but, um, do you know where Spe--Doctor Reid's desk is? Or, really, where D-Doctor Reid is?" .

Derek Morgan had to get his shit together because his jaw almost dropped when you walked in. What was some hot piece of ass doing, dressed like that, looking for Boy Genius.

He jumped up from his chair and strolled over to where you had stopped Garcia, who was just as flabbergasted as he was. "Reid is currently in a meeting sweetheart--may I ask what you, uh, want with him?"

You raised your eyebrows at the 'sweetheart', but smiled anyways. "He was supposed to be home about an hour ago and he wasn't answering his phone, so instead of panicking, because I know what you do for work, I wanted to come in and check before I lost my shit."

"Home?" Garcia squeaked out, still baffafled by how gorgeous you looked. It was like you were sent straight from heaven, a literal vision.

You nodded and tilted your head, slightly confused. "Y-Yeah...I'm sorry why is that---"

"We just didn't know Reid was living with anyone, let alone seeing someone."

"Ah." You nodded. "He's private like that, isn't he." Your smile warmed the two of them, and you shifted the coat from one arm to the other.

"y/n?"

You turned your head towards the back of the bullpen, and Spencer was walking out of Hatch's office. "What are you doing here?"

"Being introduced to your friends and coworkers since you haven't."

Spencer bit the inside of his cheeks and walked over to you both, placing his hand on the small of your back. You felt how tense he was.

"I'm here because our reservation is in twenty minutes and you said you'd be home over an hour ago." You looked at Spencer, whose eyes went a little wide.

"Shit. I-I didn't realize what time it was---"

"I have your suit in the car, and this is why I made the reservation for eight pm, instead of Seven."

"And this is why I love you." Spencer kissed your head and rushed over to his desk, scrambling to grab all of his papers and his bag and his coat and his scarf and his--

"Hi Y/n." Spencer looked up at the mention of your name, pausing in his frantic nature.

"Hi Aaron." You gave him a quick hug, but a bright smile. "How are you?"

"Well." He laughed a little. "I'd be better if we didn't have to work the day before Christmas Eve since I still need to wrap all of Jack's presents still."

"Oh how is Jack!"

"He's doing well. finally starting to enjoy reading, no thanks to you."

You laughed at his joke, all the while Derek and Garcia just shared an incredulous look. How the hell did you know Hotch? Jack?!? Why does Jack's reading habits connect to you--

"Ready sweetheart?" Spencer appeared at your side and you nodded. "It was lovely to see you Aaron. I'll stop by some time tomorrow to drop off Jack's gifts as well as yours. I got it when Spence I and went to Paris last month. I think you'll enjoy it!"

"That's why you weren't here for two weeks?" Penelope's jaw was on the floor. "I didn't take you to be a Parisian man Doctor Reid."

"W-Well, um--"

"It was for my birthday. My choice. I love art and museums so it made sense. Well, it was lovely to meet you all but we have a reservation to get to." You gave them all a quick smile before taking Spencer's hand and walking towards the elevator, your shoes clicking on the floor with every step you took.

"How long have the two of them been together?" Morgan turned to Hotch after you both had gotten in the elevator.

"I think today is their two year anniversary."

"TWO YEARS." Garcia clutched her hypothetical pearls. "How have I not known? How have WE not known?"

"He's private, and...well. You know Y/n."

"No we clearly do not know Hotch."

Hotch gave them a little smirk and a shrug. "Merry Christmas guys. I'll see you on the twenty-seventh."

As Hotch walked away, Garcia and Morgan just stared at one another. "So we're..."

"Going to spend then next ten minutes in my office finding everything out about this mystery person Spencer has been apparently dating for two years?"

"You read my mind mama. A little Christmas snooping never hurt anyone..."

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navybrat817 · 5 months

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I wish I had a smitten Bucky. Just sees me and wants me. 🥺

I know the feeling, nonnie.

Check Yes or No

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Summary: Bucky instantly falls for you, but waits to ask you out.

Word Count: Over 2.1k

Warnings: Fluff, could be seen as instalove on Bucky's side, attraction, slight insecurities, minor time jump, Alpine being the best, slight feels (it's me), Bucky Barnes (he's a warning, okay?).

A/N: I can't send Bucky your way, lovelies, so I hope you enjoy this short, surprise fic! ❤️ Not beta read and written on my phone, so any and all mistakes are my own. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!

Bucky wasn't looking for love the day he met you, but it found him anyway.

“Hey, Buck,” Steve greeted from his seat when he walked into the conference rooms and nodded to the spot beside him that you occupied. “I’d like you to meet our newest transfer. She’s also moving into the Tower.”

He was a changed man the moment your eyes met. Breathtaking was a word to describe you given how he had forgotten to breathe. He had witnessed many sunrises and sunsets in his life, a kaleidoscope of colors painted in the sky to both soothe and awaken the soul. They paled in comparison to the beauty before him.

One glance and he belonged to you completely.

“Hi, Bucky. It’s nice to meet you.”

While he wasn't sure if Heaven existed, you speaking his name was like hearing the voice of an angel.

“I’m Bucky.”

Of all the things he could've said, reiterating his name was what his mouth went with.

Instead of giving him a weird look or brushing him off when he scowled at himself, you smiled. “I look forward to us working together.”

Bucky couldn't tell you what the meeting was about that day, but he remembered the details about you. The way you leaned forward in your seat to pay extra attention when someone else spoke, also giving him an ample view of your chest before he reminded himself not to stare. The slight crease in your forehead when you jotted down an important note. And the soft giggle you let out when Steve cracked a joke.

He suddenly wished he was funnier.

“Have a good rest of the day, Bucky,” you said when the meeting ended.

Bucky didn't have to try to smile with you. It just came naturally. When you smiled back, it was easy to imagine what it would be like if you were his girl.

“You, too,” he replied, giving himself a mental victory for not screwing up his words this time. “Wait!”

You paused and looked at him expectantly. “Yeah?”

Bucky realized he had no reason to keep you from leaving. He just didn't want you to go. “Do you need help moving your stuff in?”

“I actually got my things moved in late last night, but thanks for the offer,” you replied, checking the time with wide eyes. “I'm so sorry. I have to go. I’m in 2L if you need anything!”

“Bye,” he called after you, turning in his chair to watch you go.

How did he miss you already?

Though Steve had a knowing look in his eyes, he graciously kept his mouth shut as he left the room. He reminded him an hour later that he wouldn't break any bylaws by asking you out. The punk somehow knew that you weren't seeing anyone.

Which made him happy.

While he appreciated Steve looking out for happiness, he still had to get his head on straight.

“Once I completely trust my own mind, maybe I will,” Bucky said, even though the stuff was already out of his head. He owed it to himself to take his time. And you.

Imagine his surprise when he found a note from you on his door the next day.

Hey, Bucky! Lunch on me today? Check YES or NO.

The lopsided grin on his face wouldn't go away when he read it again. You must've been interested in him enough to ask about him. How else did you know his apartment number? Why else would you ask him to lunch?

He nearly shouted “YES” in the hall before he came to his senses and simply checked the option before he returned the note to your apartment door.

When he met up with you later, he told himself it wasn't a date. It couldn't be, right? It didn't keep his heart from stopping when you answered your door. Dressed down and casual, you looked like an angel went to Earth just for him.

“Hey, Bucky,” you smiled. “Ready to go?”

He hadn't said much on the way to the cafe since he was too busy hanging on to your every word, but it was like he had known you for ages as you carried on the conversation. Your questions weren't invasive and you didn't seem to mind the occasional short answers. It was also the shortest meal of his life, over too soon for his liking, and he also refused to let you pay for his meal.

He wanted to show you that gentlemen still existed.

“Lunch again next week?” You offered.

“Sure,” he answered, his head spinning from giddiness.

But it wasn't a date.

It was time to change that.

Today was the day. Six months from the day he met you. Six months of chatting with you between missions and slowly getting to know you over weekly lunches. Six months of falling for you more and more each day and he finally worked up the courage to ask you out.

But falling was the easy part. Confessing was an entirely different story. He would either crash to the ground and hope his wounds would later heal or you’d catch him as he fell. No matter what, he wouldn't let his nerves get the better of him.

“Just like we practiced, okay?” Bucky asked.

“Meow.”

Alpine nuzzled her head against Bucky’s with a gentle purr when he huffed. She was his little partner-in-crime through and through. Like you, even though you didn't realize it, the little white ball of fur helped save him. He was fairly certain he wasn't supposed to bring her to this floor, but any reprimand would be worth it.

Besides, the Tower, office, anywhere they operated should allow them to have their pets with them, especially for emotional support.

“I'm counting on you,” he teased, placing the folded up piece of paper in her mouth. “Go.”

He peeked around the corner when he set Alpine down. The sun illuminated you from where you sat in the lounge, curled up in your normal spot on the sofa. You liked to relax there occasionally to read. He wondered what book you had with you today.

Thankfully, no one was around to disturb you.

Except for him.

“Alpine, is that you?” You asked when you looked up, closing the book as the cat approached you. While the feline was cautious of some, she warmed up to you immediately when you met and solidified that you were the one for him. “Whatcha got there? Where’s Bucky?”

His name spilling from your lips was still one of his favorite sounds.

He held his breath when Alpine jumped up beside you, opened her mouth, and dropped the paper in your lap. He immediately began to second guess himself when you unfolded it with a furrowed brow. Why did he think this was a good idea? Why didn't he just ask you like a normal guy?

To be fair, he hadn't been normal for some time.

“Will you go out with me? Check YES or NO. Love, Bucky,” you read out loud with a huge smile, which was enough to make his heart race. You giggled a moment later when Alpine bumped your hand, the soft noise making his stomach do a funny sort of flip. “Okay, okay. Let me get my pen out of my bag.”

Bucky exhaled a little as he moved to stand in the doorway. You didn't toss the paper away, so that had to be a good sign. He carefully kept himself from showing any outward emotion when you met his gaze, but his knees nearly gave out. His palms also began to sweat when you gave him a half smile.

Just when he thought you couldn't look more beautiful than you had the day before, you proved him wrong.

He ran a hand through his hair and hoped he looked halfway decent since he hadn't brushed it. But you commented a few weeks back that you liked it long when you saw an old photo, so he wanted to grow it out. He lost count of how many times he imagined your fingers in his hair

Maybe one day.

Watching you grab your pen, it was like he was drowning. The tide pulled him under as you made a mark on the sheet. His lungs burned when you handed it back to Alpine. He couldn't come up for air. He couldn't breathe.

Until you smiled again.

“Thanks, Alpine,” you said.

His cat gracefully walked back to Bucky and he swore he caught you trying not to giggle as she climbed up his leg. His heart hammered in his chest when he took the slip of paper from her mouth. Meeting your tender gaze, he couldn't bring himself to open it though.

After he told himself he wouldn't let his nerves get the better of him.

“Not going to see what my answer is?” You asked as he carried Alpine into the lounge.

“I want to,” he replied, sighing as he took a seat beside you. His cat was perfectly content to lay in his lap. “But I’m questioning if I did this the right way.”

The note you gave him for a simple lunch request may have been a small gesture in your eyes, but it meant the world to him. He thought by asking you out this way that he could give you something meaningful in return. Something that only the two of you shared.

That was all he wanted.

You turned toward him, your knee touching his. The small touch sent heat down his spine. “Open it and you’ll find out.”

He nodded, thankful that his vibranium hand didn't shake as he lifted the sheet. “Wait, let me say something before I do.”

The corner of your lip tugged as you tried not to smile. “Bucky-”

“I like you. I really like you. I have since the day we met. And I'm going to like you tomorrow. And the day after that and the day after that,” he admitted in a rush, catching your sharp inhale as he looked into your eyes. “But I know my past isn't easy to deal with. If you just want to be a teammate or colleague, that’s okay. Just. Being a part of your life in some way is more than enough.”

Alpine lifted her head and looked between the two of you, as if she was waiting with baited breath to see what would happen next.

Bucky felt a crack in his heart when you didn't speak or react, his body slumping slightly into the couch. It was okay. He took a chance and told you how he felt. He wouldn't force you to reciprocate.

“Bucky?” You asked above a whisper, reaching over to help him unfold the paper. He gasped when he saw the checkmark beside “YES”, blinking rapidly to make sure you picked that box. “I really like you, too.”

“You do?” He exhaled, grasping your hand with renewed joy. He was careful not to squeeze too hard. Hurting you was the last thing he ever wanted to do.

“Yeah. Pretty much since the day I met you,” you admitted, glancing in your lap before you met his gaze again. He saw stars in your eyes. “And your past isn't your fault, Bucky. You aren't something to ‘deal with’, okay? You’re a good man. I can give you a whole list of reasons if you need it.”

Physically, Bucky’s body was in peak condition. Your confession, however, caused all of the air to leave his lungs and made him weak in the best possible way. A familiar warmth moved through Bucky’s veins as he breathed again and it dawned on him at that moment that he hadn't felt cold since you walked into his life.

Not once.

Your faith in him gave him strength. Your mere existence gave him the courage to try. And he didn't have to go it alone.

“Wow,” he breathed, relieved and elated as he gave you a small smile. “How about tomorrow night?”

“It’s a date,” you smiled.

“Great,” he smiled back. A date. He couldn't wait to see the look on Steve's face when he told him that he finally asked you out.

“And I think the note was purrfect,” you teased at Alpine before you scrunched up your face. “I ruined the moment, didn't I?”

Bucky brought your hand to his mouth, kissing it as gently as he possibly could. He could hear your heart race. So was his. “Not at all.”

He knew it was too soon to say he loved you and it was likely too soon for you to feel that way about him, but he felt hope in your smile that you would one day.

For now, he had a date to plan all because you checked “yes”.

We know it'll be the best date ever, right? Love and thanks for reading! 💙

Masterlist ⚓ Bucky Barnes Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi

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