#any tips for that would be greatly appreciated

[livi008]

(mood board by me)

Under the mistletoe

Pairing: shy Bucky Barnes x oblivious reader

Category: fluff; holiday season romance

Word count: around 9k

Warnings: none

a/n: merry Christmas my darlings! And happy Hanukkah (only to my non-zionist baddies). So, this is my first published fan fiction so any constructive criticism or tips would be greatly appreciated. Also, just so I can be completely transparent: this is an original thought. I’ve been working on this for months and I was waiting to release it on Christmas. Any similarities to any other creations in this app is completely unintentional by my part and if needed, I will credit the writers below. Anyways, that’s all! I home you enjoy! Happy reading cuties! 🎄❄️🥂🤍

Edit: so sorry, I forgot to tag where I got the divider, here it is

(here is a cozy song if u like reading with music ;) )

The compound’s kitchen smelled like Christmas — warm spices, melted chocolate, and the unmistakable aroma of cookies fresh out of the oven. You slid a tray onto the counter, the cookies golden and steaming as you transferred them carefully to a themed bowl.

Behind you, a heavy tread signaled a well known soldier entering the kitchen.. You turned around just in time to catch Bucky Barnes reaching for one of the still-hot cookies..

‘’Hey! No, James!” you scolded, swatting his hand away with a dish towel. “First of all, they’re still hot— you’ll burn yourself. And second, these are for the. *whole* team. You need to learn to share.”

Bucky froze mid-reach, your words sending an unexpected flutter through his chest. James. No one called him that anymore— not since the forties. But coming from you, it didn’t feel odd. It felt…. Grounding. Comforting.

“Fine,” he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You’re the boss, doll.”

Satisfied, you turned back to the counter, preparing the next batch, missing the way Bucky lingered, his gaze softening as he watched you work. When the cookies had cooled enough, you grabbed one and handed it to him.

“Here, now you can try one. Carefully.”

Bucky took a cautious bite, his brows lifting in surprise. “These are… really good..” He chewed thoughtfully before adding, ‘Haven’t had these since… well, before.”

You grinned, leaning against the counter. “Well, we’ll have to change that, won’t we? I’ll start making you more baked goods.”

Bucky huffed out a laugh, the corners of his ears turning a slight shade of pink. “That just sounds like you’re trying to make me fat..”

“And you can afford it,” you quipped back, your teasing grin making his heart skip a beat.

The moment lingers, Bucky still caught in the warmth of your smile, but the spell is broken by Sam’s voice booms from the hallway. “Hey! If those cookies are gone by the time they get here, Im coming for both of you!”

You laugh, grabbing the bowl and heading for the door. “Cmon, James, let’s share these before Sam stages a full-on revolt.”

Bucky trails behind you, his steps slow, his gaze lingering on the back of your head as the scent of cookies— and you— fills the air. But as the two of you reach the doorway, you both move to pass through at the same time—and collide.

‘’Oh!” You exclaim, nearly loosing your balance, but Bucky steadies you with a hand at your waist. The contact sends heat rushing to his face, but before you can even process it, you glance up.

“Would you look at that,” you say with a grin, pointing upward. A sprig of mistletoe hangs above the doorway. Completely oblivious to Bucky’s internal spiral, you lean up and press a quick kiss to his cheek.

“Merry Christmas, James!” you chirp, the twinkle in your eyes as bright as the lights strung through the compound. Then, just like that, you slip past him, disappearing down the hall.

Bucky remains frozen in place, the spot where your lips touched burning like a brand.

His thoughts where a whirlwind as he stood rooted at the doorway. The warmth of your kiss lingered on his cheek, making him feel more alive than he had in decades. His hand instinctively brushed the spot, as if to capture the fleeting moment forever.

But before he could linger too long, a familiar voice snapped him out of his reverie.

“Yo, Barnes! You coming, or are you just gonna stand there looking like you’ve seen a ghost?” Sam’s teasing tone echoed from the common area.

Bucky blinked, forcing himself to move. Yeah, yeah.. Im coming.” He muttered, his voice low, though the tint creeping up his neck betrayed him..

As he finally follows you into the living room, the chaos of decorating being at full swing brins him back to reality.

The common room had been transformed into a holiday haven. Twinkling lights draped over every surface, garlands framed the window, and the faint sound of Sam’s playlist of outdated Christmas hits played on repeat from a speaker in the corner. The team scattered around, each person taking charge of a different task.

Thor wrestled with stringing lights onto the tree— though ‘’wrestled” was a good understatement, as the god of thunder had somehow managed to tangle himself in the wires. Steve was carefully hanging stockings on the fireplace mantel with Tony, while Sam was perched on a stepladder, complaining about having to adjust the same strand of lights for the third time.

You arrived with the cookies just as Natasha was helping Clint untangle a knot of ribbon. The smell of fresh baked goods immediately caught everyone’s attention.

“Alright troops! Cookie break!” you announced, setting the bowl of cookies on the coffee table.

The team descended like vultures, but not before you swatted Sam’s hand with a mock-stern glare. “Save some for the others, Wilson.”

Across the room, Bucky hovered near the Christmas tree, his hands busy themselves with a silver ornament he’d already adjusted three times. But his focus wasn’t on the decorations— it was on you. From the way you moved to the sound of your laugh, you were a force of warmth and light in the room, and Bucky found himself completely captivated.

‘’Y’know, Barnes,” Natasha’s voice slid into his thoughts like a needle popping a bubble, low enough for only him to hear, “if you keep staring like that, your face will be brighter than the tree.”

Bucky’s hand faltered, the silver ornament he was holding almost slipping from his fingers. “I wasn’t staring,” he muttered, his voice gruff, though the flush that creeping up his neck told a different story.

Natasha smirked, her gaze flicking from him to you. “Right. And the way your cheeks match that Santa hat dangling ogg Thor’s hammer is just a coincidence.”

Bucky sighed, letting his forehead rest briefly against the tree’s branches. Natasha’s teasing felt relentless, but she wasn’t wrong. The mistletoe incident earlier had been a turning point, and now, every time he looked at you, his heart ached in the best way possible.

“Just tell her,” Natasha added, her tone softening. “You’re gonna regret it if you don’t”

After the cookie break, everyone does back to decorating. You move closer to Bucky, handing him a box of ornaments to hang on the tree.

“Here, James. Since you’re already an expert ornament fixer.” you tease, your grin making his ears turn pink again.

“I wasn’t… fixing it,” he mumbles, but you laugh lightly brushing past him to hang a strand of tinsel.

Natasha watches the two of you with a knowing smile, nudging Sam. “Fifty bucks says he makes a move before the night’s over.”

“Not a chance,” Sam replies, crossing his arms.

The teams chatter fills the room, but Bucky is barely aware of it. His focus remains on you, your laugh, the way you effortlessly light up the room.

As the last ornaments were hung and tinsel draped, the team began to scatter— Thor and Clint collapsing onto the couch with mugs of cocoa, Sam and Tony arguing over who had the worse Santa suit from last year, and Natasha… well, Natasha didn’t scatter. She stayed rooted across the room, shooting Bucky knowing glances that only made hi, feel more cornered.

Bucky sighed, his fingers brushing the edge of a stray ornament. His mind was made up before he even realized it.. Nat was right. If he didn’t say something tonight, he knew he’d regret it. His gaze landed on you again, now humming quietly as you gathered your things in the kitchen.

He steeled himself. Now or never.

You’re mindlessly humming to one of Sam’s catchy Christmas classics when you feel hands gently settle around your waist. Before you can react, you’re spun around, and the world blurs for just a moment before James Buchanan Barnes is standing in front of you, his gaze intense yet tender.

He leans down, capturing your lips in a kiss that’s sweet and warm, sending a thrill through your chest.

When he pulls away, his smirk is soft yet mischievous. “Merry Christmas, doll,’’ he murmurs, his voice low and steady, though his eyes betray just how much this moment means to him. Then, without waiting for a response, he strides down the hall, leaving you breathless and flushed, completely dazed by surprise and excitement from what the new year might bring for yours and Bucky’s relationship.

Bonus: as Bucky walks off, he takes confident steps and doesn’t look back. But as soon as he turns a corner, his confident steps falter, as he stops, resting a hand against the wall as he takes deep breaths. HIs heart feels like it’s about to leap out of his chest. He runs a hand through his hair, his lips still tingling from yours, when a familiar voice snaps him out of his daze.

“Told you they would get together.” Natasha drawls, step out of the shadows with a victorious smirk.

Sam groans, pulling out a fifty-dollar bill and slapping it into her hand. “Man, couldn’t keep it in your pants till the party ended, could you Bucky?”

Steve chuckles softly, shaking his head as he watches his best friend fumble with his flustered grin. “It was bound to happen eventually,” he says, his tone laced with affection.

[diginuisance]

what do you remember?

(click for better quality, id in alt)

[fo0lizsh]

Hi I saw Venus and IMMEDIATELY fell in love with them <333

( Venus created by @linked-maze)

[fennecfoxdavid]

I have finally been convinced! I honestly thought these were just for artists, which is why it's taken this long to make one! But everyone on twitter said I should get one so I did! 😅

I made a Ko-fi ☕❤️for anyone who wishes to support me 🥺💖

[ohheyitsjustbear]

Lil reminder that I have a wishlist here and if anyone wanted to help toward a birthday trip you can tip me here 💖

[palmastrings]

The Seven Deadly... Rings?!?!

@nocreativityfornames you're a genius I'm just gonna go ahead and swipe this and *eats*

original post here

Essentially what if we started Nightbringer but we also had the brothers in tow in the form of rings.

No, I didn't spell check this, I'm don't write very often so excuse any weirdness. I suck at grammar and ignore spell check.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Solomon holds his hand out expectantly, presenting to you a handful of exquisite multicolored rings. 7 to be exact. Each one a familiar face, in a somewhat familiar time.

Honestly, this isn't really that astounding by any means. When living in the Devildom, you've come to expect even the most unexpected situations. The rings were probably the least surprising thing you've heard today, seeing as how you had mysteriously been thrown across time and space and landed in the Devildom... approximately 7,000 years ago. Maybe? Nobody is really good at saving dates around here, especially when the average demon lifespan stretches from now to, basically, the end of time itself. A slight over exaggeration? Again, maybe. But in your defense, in your feeble mortal eyes, that's what it may as well be.

The rings jingle in your hand as you tentatively scoop them from Solomons cold hand.

Apon first glance, they would appear to be normal rings. Pristine, each gold band is fitted with a unique colored stone matching those of the beloved demons from your normal timeline. Although, if you really focused on it, twisting the bunch of them in your palm with your fingers, you could feel how warm the metal is. It was as if someone had worn the rings before you, even though it should not have been possible, as you would be the first to bear them. Along with the warm glow of the rings, you could faintly feel an intense pulsing sensation coming from the set. Whether or not it came from what could possibly be a rapid heartbeat or the emanating pulse of horrific eldritch powers, you couldn't tell.

You go to slip them on your waiting fingers until Solomon interrupts you.

"I will warn you Mc, they were terribly rowdy before I turned them into rings, I don't blame you if you find them overwhelming to wear."

"Thanks for the warning, Solomon. I appreciate you coming all this way to help me by the way!"

"Anything for my favorite apprentice! Oh! And put in the good word for me!" Solomon winks. He turns, presumably to go and survey the Devildom of millennia ago. You're eternally grateful he went through all this trouble, not only to willingly throw himself across time and space, but to also take the time to bring along the demon brothers.

You insert each hoop onto your fingers. They fit perfectly, made just for you to wear. For a moment, there is silence. You almost begin to doubt they're even there. The only sign of anything unusual is the pulsing jewelry around your fingers, seeming to wane slowly, just until it matches your own heartbeat. Then the screaming.

"Mc! Did I hurt you at all?"

"Can you hear me?! What happened?

"AHHH, I can't believe you met me while I was in my blunder years! Wahhh!! I'm so embarrassed!!"

"Oi! Human what the hell?! What were you thinking just vanishing like that?"

"Mc, why did you leave?"

"Hon, you nearly gave me a heart attack when I heard youd gone missing! Lets go home asap!"

"..."

Suddenly, you weren't so alone in your head. A barrage of questions, sobs, and abnormal talk of urgency was flung straight in your direction. You could practically visualize the tearful Levi. The clear image of the batting white eyelashes of Mammon as he looks worried at you. Along with what's definitely becoming a new wrinkle on Lucifers face as you listen to him interrogate you. It was almost relieving to hear them speak with such familiarity to you. After being treated like a stranger not too long ago, this felt like you had brought a piece of home with you in this strange version of the Devildom.

Maybe, just maybe in the strange place, in this strange time you could make the most of it. With a sorcerer and the seven rings at your side you may just be able to tackle the newly fallen brothers of the past, the new ruling power of the Devildom, Diavolo, and finally find out why you were sent here by the one called, Nightbringer.

[milktian]

pspspsp luna moth come out i promise i won't catch and donate you to the muesuem i promise

[nbprincey]

I got a book about sewing and mending for Christmas, and I've been using it today to try darning my socks for the first time.

I gotta say, I have never felt more respect for all the people (especially women) who havve been doing this for the past several hundred years. This stuff is sew (pun) hard!😫

I'm been doing this for more than an hour, and I'm only less than halfway done

[crescentmoonsandroses]

It's raining somewhere else...

Undertale belongs to Toby Fox.

[thesunbettershineonthemagain]

so whoever it was at disney who decided they were gonna design the ducks to make them as hard to draw as possible literally better count their days.

anyways heres another practice webby 💕

[blueartistic813]

The hardest thing about drawing for me as of late has been deciding colours and values without the drawing feeling flat…

It’s like I have the rough image in my head for the colours but I can never seem to properly express that, and black and white thumbnails don’t really seem to aid me that much?

[trashbaglord]

Gamer Rick and Morty, streaming for over 24 hours now. I like to imagine the chat is actually really concerned for their mental states...

[dicksoutformtl]

sorry for my lack of knowledge about the world everyone 😔 i’ve been hit in the head a lot when i was younger and it made me very stupid

i’m back again with a question for anyone who may have an answer or an idea, but does anyone have a face care routine/products that’s hydrating & good for both sensitive dry & oily skin?

if i get things for dry skin it messes with the oil an makes that way worse, if i do something for the oil it makes my skin dry out real bad— i can’t seem to win an my poor face is suffering lmao

i’ve tried cerve, cetaphil, aveeno, an so on— hadn’t had a lot of good luck depending on what i’m using it for, like for example so far with the lotions they’re like to oily or something an my skin gets really shiny an my pores clog that or the worst part it makes my skin feel weird an gross an i lowkey freak the fuck out :’((

[sketchist-art]

silly doodle of the queen <3 taiga belongs to @warringwarrioridiot btw!

[pathetic-lifeform]

Fighting art block with dem pretty AotC boys

[satans-knitwear]

I forgot what i was supposed to be doing 🙄

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