A/N: Written for @supersoldierslover 4k celebration! Congrats, love <3 My prompt was ‘Do I wanna Know’ by Arctic Monkeys. The title’s from ‘La Douleur Exquise’, which is the heart-wrenching pain of wanting someone you can’t have.
Falling in love is nice, isn’t it?
The question is so supremely insane it keeps Steve awake at 3 in the morning, his arm folded behind his head as he stares at the ceiling of his bedroom. Bucky shifts beside him and hugs the pillow a little tighter before burying his face in it.
“Stop thinkin ‘bout her,” he mutters, his words muffled by the pillow. “’M tryin ta sleep.”
“Can’t help it,” Steve replies, then turns his head toward his best friend. “You have a bed in your room, y’know?”
Oh, wow…that hurt… You warned us, so I was prepared, but is one every really prepared to have their still-beating heart ripped from their chest?? I relate to this story more than I should, so that’s probably why it hurts so much. It’s hard to be yourself when everyone around you has an idea of who you should be…and it’s not who you really are. ♀️ Maybe they could love the real you, but they’ve spent so much time building you in their mind as this perfect specimen of virtue that the reality seems so much harsher than it truly is… My heart breaks for both of them, but perhaps it’s for the best… Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
Summary: The day of the art show has finally arrived.
Warnings: Language, and I accidentally made @aubzylynncry
A/N: This is it, guys! The final part! Here’s 14.5 in case you missed it Thursday. I want to thank all of you lovely, lovely people who had responded to this with so much love, kindness, and encouragement. I was excited to hear from you every Tuesday, and I hope you’ll continue to talk to me now that TLT is over. I never expected to get this much recognition, and to be honest with you, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. Love you guys! See you soon with some requests and my next planned series.
This is the end!! I’m so sad that it’s over, but I’m so happy that I got to embark on this journey with them! ❤️ I love that you were able to retell this entire story through the pieces he created and that the little extra touches he added told her the story she’d somehow missed along the way! This series was the sweetest, fluffiest, most heart-warming story I’ve read in a long time and my heart is so full right now! ☺️ Your writing is absolutely beautiful and I’ll definitely be checking out your masterlist for more to add to my challenge this year! Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
You arrived at the studio before Steve, and even though you had posed for him many times before, the formal setting made you feel more nervous than you expected. You had just slipped out of your coat and were fidgeting with the white leggings and white long sleeved shirt he had asked you to wear when he finally made his appearance.
“Are you going to tell me why I’m wearing all white, or are you just going to skip ahead to the part where you murder me? Just curious. Nice choice of venue by the way, very dark and empty.”
I’ll admit—you had me worried there for a moment with those warnings… I was really hoping that the girls wouldn’t be too horrible, but it turned out that they were just being themselves! The fact that they made him blush was so perfect! ☺️ I love the idea behind the piece he’s trying to create and that she was more than willing to go along with it…getting black smudges out of white clothes is never fun! Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
And we finally get Sam!! For a second, I thought the curse word you were warning us about was Sam Wilson and I got a good giggle out of it! I love that he and Bucky are still competing for Steve’s number one friend spot even in this AU, but that honor has definitely fallen to her! ❤️ And Coulson noticed it, too! I love what he said about watching Steve fall in love with the Reader through his art and that he could identify her by her fingertip at this point. There was no doubt in my mind that she would say no, but now I’m envisioning her seeing the proof of his love on display at the art show with him finally confessing his true feelings and it’s got me all giddy and excited! ☺️ Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
“Still sleepy?” you asked absently, finally breaking the silence as you neared the Lonely Tree.
“After getting yelled at, punched, and dragged across campus in the snow without my coat? Not so much,” Steve said ruefully, and you looked up at him with concern even as you pressed a bit closer. You hadn’t brought your coat either.
“Bucky?”
“Gee, however did you guess?”
“Alright, sassy, just tell me what happened,” you said with an exasperated laugh.
I squealed!! I literally squealed!! ☺️ That kiss was definitely worth the wait!! This has been one hell of a slow burn, but it’s finally paying off!! I love how nervous they were to tell one another—espeically because they were so scared of losing the friendship they’d developed over the months. ❤️ These two are so sweet and perfect and I never want this story to end! Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
You actually woke up before your alarm this time, and at first you weren’t sure what exactly had caused it. Even though you knew you had work to do before class, you allowed yourself a moment to revel in the warmth and comfort of your present situation. You were on your back, head resting on one of Steve’s arms while his other was wrapped tightly around your waist. A deep breath did very little to prepare you for the close proximity when you finally opened your eyes and turned to look at him.
You smiled fondly at the serenity of his expression, thumbing gently at his slightly parted lips and poking the tip of his nose. You giggled softly when his face scrunched slightly in response and ran a hand through his sleep-ruffled blonde hair soothingly.
Praise the Lord for Natasha Romanoff and Bucky Barnes!! At the rate she and Steve were going, they’d still be in stuck the flirting stage in the nursing home! I’m so excited to see how their little tête-à-tête at the Lonely Tree goes! Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
The incessant buzzing of your phone against the wood beside your face drew you reluctantly from your much-needed sleep. You were disoriented at first, noting the old lamps, polished tables, and endless shelves of the library and a few of your fellow students squirming agitatedly in their chairs as they studied. Eyeing the distressingly thick packet of papers you still had to read through tonight with distaste, you hardly noticed when your phone stopped vibrating. It started up again almost immediately, and you let out a grumpy sigh and snatched it up from the table.
“Hello,” you mumbled through a yawn.
“Y/N? Finally! Why haven’t you been answering your phone? Where are you? Are you okay? Please tell me you’re not still at the library.”
This slow burn is slowly killing me! I need them to kiss…like really kiss, but you’re being such a tease! I did love that he was so worried about her, though! ❤️ But now that she’s got him in her bed, maybe they can finally start admitting they have feelings for one another! Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
A frantic pounding on their front door jarred Steve and Bucky out of their respective seats one dreary grey Friday.
“Steve, I swear to God, if that’s your little girlfriend, I’m gonna punch you,” Bucky grumbled, pausing the movie he had been watching with a decidedly unamused expression.
“Pretty hard for a nonexistent girlfriend to knock on the door like that, Buck,” Steve shot back earning an eye roll as Bucky reached for the door.
It’s been years since I’ve playing in the rain, but now I can’t wait for the first warm spring thunderstorm so I can go splash in some puddles! I love that they’re both so carefree around one another, but that kiss definitely threw them both for a loop! I’m hoping for a repeat sometime soon!! Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
“What do you mean you already told him I said yes?” Nat asked, smacking you on the back of the head.
“Ow! Hey, it won’t take that long! And we get the at rest part, so we literally won’t have to do anything!”
“So, what, he’s just going to sit in the corner and stare at us? That’s weird!”
“It’s not like we’ll be sitting in silence, Nat. He’s perfectly capable of talking and drawing at the same time.”
“Ooooo, I get to interrogate the man you’re in love with? Well, why didn’t you say so?” This mischief in her voice made you lift your head up from her shoulder to glare at her.
Oh, the poor Reader!! Now she knows how Steve felt when she and Bucky were ganging up on him! I love that Natasha goes through her phone checking up on her…such a Natasha thing to do! ♀️ I’m still holding out hope that she’s the mystery girl from Bucky’s history class, though! I guess I’m just a sucker for the WinterWidow ship! ❤️ But Nat is right…she’s in love with him and it’s about time they both finally confessed their true feelings! Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
Sketchbook Assignment 12: Now that you’ve gotten used to accurately capturing the human form, focus on interactions. At least two sketches of two people interacting in each, one in motion, one at rest. Platonic interactions only for this one, please.
“I wonder what happened to make him add that last part,” you mused with a giggle, passing the paper to Bucky who snorted when he finished reading.
“Oh, I think you know exactlywhat happened. Where do you want us, Steve?”
AHHH!! We got the flirty banter I was hoping for!! And the embarrassed Steve! ☺️ I love that she and Bucky get along so well, but why do I get the feeling the girl from his history class is someone we already know??? I can’t wait to read the next part to see if I’m right!! Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
Summary: Your forget your coat but are blessed by the presence of a human space heater.
Warning: Language, little bit of name calling (is that a warning? I don’t even know)
A/N: I’ll just be over here crying and taking finals… But I go home Friday and then I can catch up with the requests and release things more often YAY!!
You spun around lazily in your desk chair, staring at the time on the lock screen of your phone until it finally read 5:00. It wasn’t that you disliked your job, it just got really, really boring when you inevitably finished all your office assistant related tasks thirty minutes into your two hour shift.
As you moved around the office turning off lamps and tidying up, you felt the cold radiating from the windows and let out a harsh curse. You had forgotten your coat again. The sweater you had been wearing may have been fine under the afternoon sunshine, but, thanks to daylight savings, the sun now set while you were at the office, meaning the temperature had dropped at least ten degrees.
I hate when Daylight Saving Time ends in the fall! Give me my extra hour of sunlight!! ☀️ I’m glad she found Steve…who was, of course, out running in near-freezing temps! I really hope we get some fun banter between her and Bucky because I have a feeling Steve will be beet red before those two are done having fun! ☺️ Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
Steve awoke very, very slowly. The first thing he was aware of was the cold. There was a steadily growing light against his eyelids, and he let out a sleepy grumble, burying his face more completely in his pillow… his pillow that had softly perfumed hair… he pillow that was warm and inviting where it was nestled against him… his pillow that was actually you.
Eventually he dragged his eyes open as he came back to himself, suddenly very aware of your legs intertwined with his, your face nuzzled against his neck, your arms curled around his waist under his coat. Even as he watched, you gave a little shiver and squeezed him tighter against you, and Steve knew he needed to take you inside.
You tried to warn me, but I still fell victim to the overwhelming amount of fluff in this part! I swear I’ve got a couple new cavities after reading this! But it’s worth it since he’s finally admitting that he’s in love with her! ❤️ I’m pretty sure she’s been in love since the day she found him sitting under her tree! I’m not sure if you’re planning to throw any angst at us in the coming parts, but after all this fluff, I know it’ll hurt that much more! I guess I’ll just have to wait to see! Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
Despite his many protests, you managed to drag Steve with you to Wanda and Maria’s dorm that weekend. Everything was going fine, great even. You were all drinking cheap champagne out of coffee mugs, sitting on every available surface in the tiny room and taking turns telling outrageous stories that only got wilder as the night progressed. Steve barely spoke, opting instead to sit beside you in content silence, a polite smile fixed on his face.
At some point, Natasha decided it was absolutely necessary to turn out all of the lights and put on The Blair Witch Project, waving off your protests and making room for you and Steve on one of the beds. You glared at her periodically throughout the first ten minutes of the movie. She knew damn well what she was doing.
The Blair Witch Project…it’s so ironic that I was just thinking about this movie the other day. My seven year old niece likes to FaceTime me…while she’s running around outside playing…reminds me of the BWP every time! But I’m with the Reader, there’s no reason to watch it more than once in a lifetime… But at least she had Steve to protect her…and the fern, of course! But it was sweet that he walked her home and that she called the tree “theirs.” ❤️ Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
Word Count: 995 (these keep getting longer idk guys)
Summary: You climb the Lonely Tree
Warnings: Language, brief mention of injury, Steve being dumb… again
A/N: You guys are the sweetest, and it’s slowly killing me. Happy Tuesday, my darlings! Part 1,Part 2, Part 3,Part 4
“Hey,” Steve said suddenly, nudging you.
You held up a finger, intent on finishing at least one page of this damn book without him distracting you. The rustling of the leaves of the Lonely Tree – what leaves it had left – mingled with the sound of Steve’s sullen sigh.
“I’m bored,” he said, nudging you again and letting out a plaintive sound when you smacked his shoulder, eyes still glued to the page.
“Oh my god WHAT?” You tossed your book down and turned to the squirming blonde beside you when he nudged you yet again.
“Hmm…” Bucky looked at you for a moment longer before turning to Steve. “Well, I like her. Can we keep her?”
Um, yes! I love that Nat convinced her to write that reply and that it got Steve all hot and bothered! But climbing a tree? ♀️ Steven Grant Rogers has no respect for his own well-being, but to put her at risk simply because he can’t process his own emotions?? He’s hopeless, but somehow we still adore him…♀️ Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
Awww, they’re so adorable! I love that she was texting him while he was busy drawing her…a few feet away! Steve is kinda acting weird, though…I mean, she was ready to ditch Nat to hang out with him, but he didn’t seem interested… And yet, he showed up the next day with hangover remedies, so he’s not exactly avoiding her…♀️ But now Nat knows about him!! And that text Bucky sent her?? Maybe Nat and Bucky will finally be able to get these two together for real! Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
A/N: I know I just postedPart 2yesterday, but I wanted to offer up something as a mood boost. We could all use some love right now. If you guys need or want to talk to me, you absolutely can. And here’sPart 1if you need it
Your daily schedule underwent a few changes over the next two weeks. In most cases, you ended up seeing Steve at least once every day. For the first week, you left for class an hour early on the days he had art so that you could sit with him, sometimes posing, sometimes not. Eventually, that expanded into meeting him on the off days too, sitting in the grass together and talking until eventually Steve’s drawings of you became a side effect of your interactions instead of a reason for them.
Aww, this was so soft and sweet! I love that they both missed each other when he wasn’t waiting for her by the tree! ❤️ As I sit inside staring at the deceptively bright sun shining through my windows, I’m wishing it was an early fall day so I could go outside instead of being cooped up indoors because it’s actually twenty-some degrees outside! There’s nothing quite as relaxing as lying in the grass in the sunshine and it’s been way too long since I’ve indulged in that particular pleasure! ☀️ I’m so in love with this story and I can’t wait to see what happens next! ☺️ Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
Summary: You return to the Lonely Tree to see Steve’s drawing of you
Warnings: Lil bit of language
A/N: I think I’m going to make Lonely Tree Tuesdays a thing… Yeah. New part every Tuesday. Also here is Part 1andPart 3
“Where are you going? Why are you being so weird?” Natasha groaned from her bed, turning onto her side to glare at you sleepily while you rearranged your hair for the fifteenth time that morning.
“I’m not being weird! I’m going to get breakfast.”
“You don’t even have any classes until noon! Why the hell are you even awake right now?”
“Let me live!”
“Being awake at nine in the morning is not living!”
Okay, so I’m totally in love with both Nat and Bucky in this! ❤️ The fact that they both give their friends a hard time, but do it in such a fun-loving way really makes me happy! ☺️ And I love that little mention of Sam trolling Steve because he definitely would! As for Steve and the Reader—they are definitely crushing on one another and I think it’s adorable! Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
Summary: You have a favorite tree which you make sure to pass every day on your way to class, but one day you find you’ll have to get used to sharing it. Artist Steve College AU
Warnings: I feel like Artist Steve should count as a warning, guys. I don’t know.
A/N: Well, here’s part one of my first ever drabble series! Let me know what you guys think! Part 2
“And where do you think you’re going?” your roommate Natasha called after you as you made a break for the door.
“Going to class,” you replied innocently, silently cursing your luck that for the first time all year, Natasha was skipping her morning class.
“Going to class thirty minutes early?” She was suspicious now, slipping out of her bed and eyeing you carefully. “What’s his name?”
This series came very highly recommended and after reading the first part, I can totally see why! ❤️ I’m the kind of person that would feel sorry for a tree because it’s by itself, so the Reader and I have that in common. I also happen to have a particular weakness for blond, built, and beautiful men, so I’m definitely a fan of Steve! And the fact that I’m an art teacher just makes this story even more perfect for me! I can’t wait to see how this all plays out! ☺️ Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
