#however it's also like fifteen bucks for one brush so you kinda have to like. Decide If It's Worth It

[mantisgodsart]

(via @cordycepsbian)

We can answer this actually we love talking about Cool Art Stuff.

Despite what one may assume, sharp edges in watercolor is actually quite easy! Come, sit, allow us to share our secrets. It's like 50% "materials" and 50% "we spent a long-ass time figuring out how to do sharp edges in watercolor and now we're really good at figuring out the exact combos of consistency and brush stroke required to make those really hard edges"

The first trick is, of course, to not try and do it at the beginning of the painting. When you're just starting to block shapes in to your watercolor, pursuing sharp edges is a fool's ordeal, and you can only really get those sharp edges in as finishing touches near the end of the work.

The second trick is to work wet-on-dry - this limits the spread of the watercolor and allows you to prevent bleeding, but you have to make sure your painting is COMPLETELY dry before painting, or you'll risk having some ill-defined lines and bleeding.

The third trick is to work with... cake watercolors? There's a tern for it, we just can't remember it - dry pan watercolors, where you have to wet the paint to "activate" it, offer you a LOT more control over the consistency of your paint, and using a relatively thick paint will allow you some REALLY sharp lines! Fair warning, your mileage may vary based on the specific paints you use just because pigment is Expensive and cheaper brands of watercolor will almost definitely be, like, cutting out as much pigment as they can manage in order to cut corners, and the sharp edges will be less obvious the more transparent they are.

As a general rule of thumb when you pay for Fancy watercolor you're paying for the insane amount of pigment that they put in their Fancy Stuff and that lends itself a lot more to Sharp Lines (plus one thing of it will last Fucking Forever). The black we use Specifically is an Artisanal Fancy Brand that we don't remember the name of and we've been using the same ~$10 thing for more than a year without even using up half of it, but honestly the actual paints you use are the Least important part of doing watercolor, you can do like the exact same thing with dollar store paints it'll just be a bit less pigmented.

The fourth trick is to just, like, practice a TON. You WILL have to spend time getting it right. It will take a Long-Ass Time. You will have So Much Trouble. Unfortunately this step cannot be avoided but we can still warn you that you'll be trying to make really sharp lines for like an hour and it still won't quite work.

The last trick is to uhh

[starbuckie]

Okok what about peter and reader going to a Halloween party and they’re in college but before they leave, they’re told they have to take Morgan trick or treating and are kinda annoyed by it but end up having a good time! Also if they have a couples costume 💕💕💕

YES YES YES i’ve never written for peter before but i hope i do him justice. btw, this is kind of an au in which nobody finds out pete’s identity, cuz i have no idea what’s happening there. enjoy reading<3

-

A rapping against the wooden door of Peter’s dorm echoed across the small room and the eighteen year-old boy shot up from the couch. Tonight was the first normal part they’d get to go to, one of the frats throwing a party to end Halloween on a big note. His girlfriend, Y/N, was getting ready with him beforehand, bringing some dinner she picked up from the Thai place near their school’s auditorium and his favorite cuddles from his favorite girl. He was expecting it to be a crazy night, full of music, dancing, and just a nice break from the work they’d been so swamped with.

What he was not expecting however, was his girlfriend holding a six year-old Morgan at the door and a box of pizza in one hand. “Petey!” Y/N dropped the little wriggling girl she was holding in her left arm and let her jump on the surprised boy. “I’ve missed you so much! Momma said she had some business tonight and I couldn’t go trick-or-treating, but Y/N said I could hang out with you guys tonight and that you would take me.” 

Peter forced out a chuckle and look to Y/N. “You said what?”

She rolled her eyes and walked in briskly, but not before dropping a kiss to his lips. “C’mon, Pete, Morg was upset so I told Pepper that we could take her trick-or-treating and feed her some dinner.” Brushing her lips by his ear, she quietly added, “Rhodey called her in for some tech help, Sam and Bucky are off the grid.” 

Oh, that type of business. Ever since he and Y/N had started their freshman year of college they had gotten somewhat of a break from near-death experiences, and especially after Mysterio two years before, they were so much more careful of how they lived their lives. Pepper had insisted that they go to college, even though Peter protested at first, wanting to make sure that he was there if the rest of the Avengers ever needed him, but with a final rejection from the blonde woman, he relented. 

Still, tonight was supposed to be a night for him and his girlfriend, and as much as he loved Morgan, he wanted to just enjoy some time with Y/N, doing what Pepper liked to call “having the full college experience” that she wanted so badly for them. With a sigh, Peter ruffled Morgan’s hair and brought her to the couch where Y/N had started setting up dinner. “Did Pepper give a time that we have to bring this little kiddo home?”

“Yeah, she said eight because when she let Buck and his girlfriend take her last year they brought her home at nine completely passed out, and she threw up the next day.” She handed a slice to the Morgan, who was dressed as a unicorn this year, and sent a wink her way. “We’ll still have plenty of time to go to the party if you want afterwards.”

“There’s a party?” Morgan asked, excitement filling her eyes. “Can I go to the party with you guys.”

Peter chuckled at the sweet little girl and shook his head. “No, it’s gonna be way past your bedtime, Morg, but I think that going trick-or-treating will be, like, fifteen times more fun.”

“Fifteen times more fun? Really?” She gasped. 

“Yeah, Morg, fifteen times more fun. Those weirdos at the party got nothing on you.” Y/N smiled at her two people, warmth blooming in her chest. “What time are we going out, baby?”

She sat herself next to Peter and curled into him, head resting on his shoulder as Morgan giddily watched Hotel Transylvania. “We’re thinking in maybe an hour or so so Morg can have at least two hours. We’ve also gotta pull the costumes out so we can match.”

Peter looked down at his girlfriend with shock, face red from pre-embarrassment, thinking about the matching Han Solo and Princess Leia costumes under his bed in the dorm. “We can’t dress up, we’re way too old!” Y/N fixed him a pointed look and he exasperatedly sighed. “I ordered those as a joke!”

“No you didn’t, Peter.”

“No, I didn’t.”

[spaceorphan18]

Finding Kurt Hummel: Glee, Actually

Masterpost

4x10: Glee, Actually

It’s that other cracky Christmas episode.  A lot of people don’t like this one.  And while I do agree that they tried to jam too many things into one place, it’s still my favorite Christmas episode.  

Artie’s Fantasy

The first vignette centers around Artie wishing he wasn’t in his wheelchair.  And then we get bizarro world with the return of Rory and the death of Quinn.  You know what - I’m not going to overthink it. 

When we find Kurt, we see that he’s getting bullied again.  It’s weird to me that Artie asks if he’s graduated, and Kurt says no because he was held back because of the bullying.  But yet, we see Finn and Puck there bullying, so did they get held back to? Oh right, I wasn’t going to overthink it. 

I don’t know if Artie being able to walk really stops Kurt from ending up at Dalton - but I’m more fascinated by the ‘what-if’ part of it.  This AU Kurt has never met Blaine, and his life is not so great.  And I find that interesting.  And I find it interesting that this moment takes place during their current break up.  Because it’s a nice reminder that Blaine has had a huge impact on Kurt’s life - and even if they had never gotten back together, even if they were done completely after the break up, you can lessen the fact that Blaine being in Kurt’s life changed it for the good.  

I do think it’s interesting that this little comment also comes in an episode where Kurt and Blaine are beginning to find each other again.  

As a side note - I am also super fascinated by the idea that in this AU Blaine doesn’t exist at all! There’s a whole ton of meta-layers to that, but I’ll save that for when I talk about Blaine on the podcast.  

This little moment cracks me up - and I’ll bet you ten bucks it was a Chris improv.  So this is during Artie’s Feliz Navidad performance - and Kurt’s so unsure of it, he wields scissors as a weapon in case this weirdo gets too close.  By the end of the number, he’s got a look of shock and awe on his face.  So this AU Kurt apparently has never seen a musical? 

I’m not going to get bogged down in the many directions this fantasy could go - because there’s such a sense of no logic to it - but there are interesting conversations to be had in general about ‘what-if’s - and how Kurt’s life would be different if at various points in the narrative his life had gone in a different direction. I mean - isn’t that what we explore when we do fanfiction?

Lonely Christmas

Rachel’s taking off on a, apparently very gay, cruise.  Woot! Goodbye Rachel - I don’t really miss you in this episode.  But - she’s leaving Kurt all alone - and shows some concern for him. Aw, Rachel, how nice of you.  

Kurt’s not going home because he believes his dad is going to be with Carole’s family.  (I’m guessing this is a lie-ish thing Burt said so he could arrange to surprise Kurt in New York?)  Rachel asks about Blaine - so I wonder if Kurt talked to her about possibly seeing Blaine at Christmas, or at least the phone call.  Kurt says he has talked to Blaine (yes - communication) and that Blaine understands that Kurt has to save money for college.  Which is somewhat of an excuse.  Is Kurt ready to take on that heavy conversation that he had promised Blaine? Possibly not. 

I do believe Kurt when he says being alone won’t be a bad thing.  Kurt’s still an introvert - and I can only imagine having Rachel around all the time could zap his energy.  But also, I do think Kurt having some time to recharge and really think some stuff through wouldn’t have been the worst thing in the world - even if it made the holidays a little lonelier.  

Luckily for Kurt - he won’t actually be alone for Christmas - since his dad has arrived unexpectedly.  Oh look - he’s making nearly the same face as when Blaine showed up unexpectedly.  Also - he has a plant.  No, Kurt, no! Run away! No!

So with bringing of a real Christmas tree (I’m stuck on how Burt got one and how did he get it to Bushwick - but not important) we get discussion of Hummels’ past Christmas and more insight to Kurt’s mom.   I love when we go there! 

So, Kurt’s mom was big on Christmas and real trees.  There’s speculation over the years, based on this episode, that Kurt’s mom might have died around the holidays.  Here Burt says ‘first Christmas without his mom’ - so my guess is that she didn’t die exactly at Christmas time but possibly that fall (based on clothing during I Want to Hold Your Hand/Grilled Cheesus flashbacks).  Anyway - that first Christmas Burt was so out of it (understandably) that he forgot about the tree and Kurt made his own ornament out of his mom’s perfume bottle. 

Because he loved the way she smelled.  Ah, remember that comment back in Ballad about the dresser and the smell? Oh, Kurt <3 I’m guessing the rest of his life - whatever that scent is will remind him of his mom - and it’ll help keep her memory alive.  

All this nostalgia though is bringing down that joyful Christmas vibe - and Kurt, of all people, says that the box of ornaments is about happy memories, too - like the trip to Dollywood for Kurt! And the Nascar museum for Burt! (Oh what these two have done for each other.)  And Burt even has a special bulb for Kurt and Rachel - an apple, for them being in the big apple now.  How sweet. 

Bombshell

So - Kurt and Burt have a nice father/son evening - going out to see a Rockette’s show at Radio City.  Nice little throwback here to Burt’s Single Ladies dance during Goodbye. 

I keep wondering where Blaine is during all of this.  Did he have to catch another flight? Has he been hanging around Manhattan the whole time? Meanwhile - it seems a bit crazy to go all the way out to Radio City then back to Bushwick only to go all the way back out to Rockefeller Center again.  Why am I trying to be logical about this? 

So - apparently it’s a Hummel tradition to have hot cocoa.  And Burt uses this time to drop the bombshell on Kurt -- he has prostate cancer.  And Kurt’s going to be sick. 

(As an aside - Ryan Murphy’s dad died of prostate cancer - and I guess this might have been a way of dealing with that? Since Kurt was originally supposed to be in his image? Idk - I do know the amount of pushback this story got from fans - and almost immediately RM assured everyone that Burt would not be dying.) 

Anyway - this is heavy news for Kurt, especially because he’s a kid who already lost one parent - and now faces the prospect of losing another one.  The discussion about Kurt’s mom in the earlier scene was not random - it’s there to remind you that Kurt has already been through this once. 

Burt, however, isn’t all that worried.  Since his heart attack - he’s been taking better care of himself.  And he’s all confident that he can beat this cancer thing just fine.  Kurt’s not so sure -- but this is where we kind of move into omnipotent Burt - and he knows he’ll be okay. 

Kurt says he’s worried that Burt might not be around to see Kurt reach his destiny, but Burt assures him he’ll be there.  It’s also interesting that Kurt’s destiny may not exactly be what he thinks it is.  (Burt will be there to see Kurt light up the stage some day - but within the confines of the show, Burt will also be there to see Kurt get married and start a family life - which we all figured this might be implying.) 

But also - Burt brings some advice -- that having this many brushes with death means that you need to hold those you love close to you.  And of course this means each other.  But judging by the fact that Burt literally brings Blaine along - my interpretation is that Burt knows, even through the nastiness of the current break up -- Blaine and Kurt are two people who have each other’s backs - and you need people like that when going through the hard things.  

Christmas Presents

When they get back to the loft - Kurt is being all fussy for his dad, which is sweet and very Kurt-ish.  He’s used to taking care of his dad, it’s almost like putting on an old glove. 

Meanwhile, we learn more Hummel traditions! (There seems to be a lot in this episode.)  That Burt watches the game while Kurt not-so-secretly reads fashion magazines.  And they give each other gifts on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day. 

So Kurt gives Burt NYADA hat and shirt for Christmas! Burt’s so proud of his son, it’s fantastic to see.  And he tells Kurt that he’ll be kicking ass at that school.  Kurt’s slightly weary about it, as it shows on his face, but he’s gonna try. 

Meanwhile, Burt’s gift to Kurt -- kinda too big for wrapping.  Kurt’s definitely curious and then like - what even is going on?  It cracks me up that Burt says he can return the gift if he doesn’t want it. How would that even work? Lol...

Kurt’s big present for this Christmas is Blaine! And - yeah, there are about fifteen emotions that cross Kurt’s face at this - but happy and excited are a couple of them.  It’s not until Blaine starts talking about Kurt’s dad having cancer, and that he’ll take care of Burt when back in Ohio does Kurt’s face fall.  It’s such a nice moment, and despite complications, Kurt is happy to see Blaine - but oh yeah, the reality that his dad might be dying kind of hits him like a sledge hammer. 

And Blaine is so awkward here - but I get it.  Because he wants to do and say the exact right thing.  He is so, so scared of messing anything up with Kurt that their interactions are a little tricky at the moment.  

But! Kurt relaxes a little when Blaine mentions that he’s there for another tradition - their holiday duet.  And sadly, this is the last one that we get on the show. 

Blaine also dips his toe in the water to test it out and asks if Kurt’s happy to see him.  And Kurt replies ‘always’.  And that’s sincere.  And already a lot kinder and softer than their last meeting on Grease weekend. 

So, Kurt and Blaine sing White Christmas on skates.  And, okay, I’m gonna be honest, it’s a little underwhelming after all the BTS stuff we got to see.  It’s too short, there’s way too many shots of random skaters, and the ‘almost kiss’ moment looks weird to me.  But! I cut it some slack - especially since Chris isn’t a skater. 

And these two goobers look like they’re having a ton of fun with each other out on the ice.  Which is the important part.  Plus - Burt is looking on incredibly fondly.  He wants his kid to have someone to hold onto when/if things get dark.  But I also think he’s there for Blaine - wanting Blaine to have something, too.  Burt knows there’s a happy ending out of this.  And man did we carry that with us in our pockets for the rest of the season. 

Ah man - I’m still sad they didn’t sing Winter Wonderland in season 5.  Such a missed opportunity, Glee!!!! 

It’s Christmas officially by the time they get done skating and are enjoying hot chocolates.  And then we get Blaine’s speech about how they’re always going to be there for each other - no matter what, together or not.  And it’s kind of like later - when Kurt will say they always belong to each other no matter what. Kurt’s still very much in the healing process - but Blaine is a part of his life.  Always. 

////

So now we get to play a little game of fill in the blank.  Did Kurt and Blaine sleep together or didn’t they? I know a lot of people think they did based on Blaine’s line in I Do.  I don’t think that’s what the narrative meant, but it does bring up some interesting conversations.  I can make a case for either way.  

On the one hand - Kurt’s still somewhat in a fragile place - and he’s slowly letting Blaine back into his world, and he’s not going to let Blaine into that place just yet.  It might be a little too overwhelming, and too much too fast.  

On the other - I can see Kurt disconnecting emotional and physical.  And allowing himself to have this physical pleasure with Blaine, because after everything, after hearing about his dad, he needs to have a release and sex can bring that, and as long as Kurt’s aware of his own boundaries he allows himself this one thing. 

I can see either direction and have read both directions.  Glee leaves it open so there’s not a correct answer - just a lot of interesting avenues to explore. 

Domesticity

It’s Christmas day and the game is on.  I love that Kurt comes over with a napkin for his dad - as he’s still always automatically taking care of his dad.  Burt and Blaine also have a bet going on - to see how long Kurt can make it without picking up Vogue.  And I just have to say - how adorable it is that Burt and Blaine are paralleled here.  I’m not good at articulating why, but there are some similarities between the two of them, and the show even goes for it at times, and this is one of them.  Idk, I like it. 

Anyway - Kurt only lasts 20 seconds, and Burt wins as he’s known Kurt quite a bit longer.  Blaine’s line about Kurt not being able to hold out just a little longer is laced - as though commenting on that Blaine couldn’t wait just a little longer before deciding his relationship was over and being with someone else.  Oh show. 

Kurt, meanwhile, thinks they’re both ridiculous.  But what I love about this scene is that there’s a sense of home here.  This is a snapshot of what life is going to be like twenty years down the road when they’re officially one big happy family. 

So then Burt brings up Blaine’s college plans.  (And as an aside - god how nice was it the acknowledgement that Blaine wouldn’t be held at McKinley forever.  To bad the school year stretched on forever.)  

And this is where we get a moment of Kurt and Blaine silently having a conversation with each other underneath the regular conversation.  And while I love that - I love recognizing that - I’ll be honest and needed a little help breaking that a part.  So thanks to my friends who have so graciously chimed in.  <3 <3 (This is always more fun when talking about it in a conversation.)  

But basically - Blaine, while he doesn’t need to do it, is asking Kurt for permission to go to NYADA.  Because he doesn’t want to overstep his bounds, and yeah, I think part of his decision in going to NYADA is to be close to Kurt, even if way back when, they had decided that they would go there together.  

And Kurt is a little hesitant, and a little held back, but says it’s fine.  He’s still in a weird place, and Blaine is being so cautious. And the future, for Kurt right now, is so much more ambiguous than it once was.  But he’s not going to stop Blaine from living.  

(Check out other answers here - I have smart friends)

And this is during the last group number - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.  It’s such a sweet little moment, just the three of them, a nice little family dinner.  Ah man.  We still have the second half of the season to go - but baby steps...  

[let-it-go-and-let-it-live]

Cupcakes and Birthday Spanks

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUCKY BARNES!!

Bucky Barnes x Aria

Word Count: ~3600 (definitely a lot longer than originally planned)

Summary: It’s a chill kinda day as Aria and Bucky celebrate his 100th birthday. We’re talking Netflix, take-out, and shenanigans while making cupcakes. Smut shall ensue by the end of the day, and it will be sweet, both literally and figuratively. There’s also some language and a bit of fluff.

I stay in bed beside him, the cover pulled up to my nose as I watch his sleeping face. After another few minutes, he groans softly as he stretches. I smile, ducking under the covers as he turns to look at me.

“What are you doin’?” he whispers, his voice rough.

I crawl onto him, straddling his hips as I sit up and let the covers fall down from my shoulders.

“Well,” he smirks, trailing his hands up my bare thighs, “I can get used to waking up like this.”

I push him back down when he tries to sit up, “Oh hush.” I reach out, brushing his hair to the side with my fingertips, “Now, it’s my understanding that on this day about a hundred years ago, a certain somebody was born onto this earth.”

“Oh god.”

“That’s right, Bucky Barnes! It’s your birthday!”

“Come on, doll, you know we don’t have to do anything special.”

“That’s the thing, babe. We’re not doing anything.”

He arches an eyebrow at me, “What?”

“We’re not doing a damn thing today. We’re just gonna hang around here, maybe binge some stuff on Netflix, make some cupcakes. I’ve got all the numbers and menus for any and every take-out place that delivers in the area. As a matter of fact,” I pull my bottom lip between my teeth as I lightly drag my nail down his bare chest, “I might not even put on pants today.”

“No objections here.” He mutters, his hands now moving around to my butt.

“We’ve got all day for your nonsense.” I giggle, grabbing his wrists and pulling his hands away, “I’ve told everyone to steer clear of our front door for the next 24 hours.”

“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.” He chuckles, threading his fingers with mine.

“More or less.” I shrug, “So what do you want for breakfast?”

“Can I have you?”

I roll my eyes, shaking my head, “Pancakes it is.”

When I move to get to my feet, his arms wrap tight around my waist and he flips me, pinning me to the bed beneath him.

“James?”

“Yes, doll?” he whispers, ghosting a trail of kisses along my jaw line.

“What are you doin’?”

“Not a thing.” He answers, shifting down the bed and slowly raising up my shirt.

“Then would you care to explain to me why I’m still looking at our ceiling and not in the kitchen making pancakes?”

“I don’t know, baby doll.” He kisses my hip, “Sounds like a personal problem.”

I squirm slightly as his lips continue across to my other hip.

“Bucky…” I whine.

He sighs, pushing himself up to sit on his heels, “Fine.”

I pull myself up, taking his face between my hands, “Like I said,” my thumb grazes his bottom lip, “we have all day.”

He smirks, standing and pulling me with him before grabbing my waist and hoisting me over his shoulder. I giggle, giving his butt a light spank as he carries me from the room.

“Hey!” he laughs, returning the favor.

“You have to get your birthday spanks, Buck.”

“As long as I get to return the favor later.”

“Agreed.” I smirk.

He sets me on my feet and immediately goes to getting the ingredients out for our breakfast. Once his back to me, though, I give his backside another swat.

“That’s two.”

“Just for the record,” he sighs, pulling the milk out of the fridge, “biologically, I’m like 30.”

I grab a bowl and the measuring stuff, “I thought Steve was younger than you?”

“He is, but he woke up first so he’s got a couple of years on me now.”

I hum, nodding my head in response.

As we cook, Bucky starts to become more aware of me, also becoming more careful not to turn his back to me. In the end, however, it’s all in vain because I get up to twelve.

“Thirteen!” I laugh, watching him try to fight back a smile as he carries our now empty plates to the sink.

I stand up, slowly moving toward him. Just as I’m going in for number fourteen, he catches my hand and turns me so that my back is to his chest.

“I’m warning you, baby doll.”

“You’ve got seventeen more, baby, and you’re gonna get ‘em.”

He sighs, kissing my shoulder, “So what’s next then?”

“How about a shower and then we find something to watch for a few hours.”

He nods, “After you.”

He keeps his hands on my hips, a smirk playing at his lips as I wash his hair. He even lets out a little satisfied hum when I start to massage my fingertips against his scalp. Once I’m done rinsing his hair out, I comb my fingers through it to push it out his face.

“I might cut my hair.”

“Why?”

“You don’t think it’s too much?”

I shake my head, threading my fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck, “I think it’s just enough.”

He groans when I give it a little tug.

“Just a trim then.”

I scoff, turning my back to him and turning off the water. I slide open the glass door and step out. Once he steps too, I throw a towel over his head. He huffs, yanking it off and shaking his head rapidly, flinging water all around him. I laugh and uselessly shield myself with my hands.

“You’re right.” He chuckles, scrubbing the towel over his hair, “Maybe I’ll grow it out instead.”

“Any longer than that, and I will have Steve help me hold you down while I cut it myself.”

“Good luck with that, baby.”

Narrowing my eyes at him, I close the distance between us, “I have my ways, James.”

“You don’t scare me.”

“Maybe that’s all part of the plan. I’ll lull you into a false sense of security with my unequivocal cuteness and then attack when you least expect it.”

He nods his head slowly, wrapping his towel around his waist, “Okay.”

I watch after him as he leaves the bathroom. I follow him after a moment. Our bedroom is silent aside from the opening and closing of drawers. Once he’s dressed, he disappears back into the bathroom to brush his teeth. I join after I put on my own clothes, which consists of nothing but some underwear, a bra and a fresh tank top from my drawer.

He leans down a bit to spit in the sink so I seize the opportunity presented to me.

“Fourteen.” I mumble through a mouthful of toothpaste.

He rinses out his mouth and his toothbrush. I can see the mischief brewing in his eyes, and I can’t help but feel that I’m going to be paying for my little game later this evening.

“I’ll be in the living room.” he says softly, smiling in my direction.

“Okay.” I reply, running my toothbrush under the faucet, “I just need to dry my hair.”

“Take your time. We have all day.”

His words arouse suspicion in me, but I shake it off and proceed to blow dry my hair. My bangs fall into my face once the length of it is pulled back into a ponytail.

My jaw drops when I step out of the hall and into the living room. He’s on the floor, nestled in a pile of pillows and blankets, leaning back against the couch.

“I thought we could use a pillow fort.”

“I think it’s exactly what we needed.”

He holds his hand out to me, “Well get over here then. I can’t start the show without you.”

I cross the room to him, taking his hand and allowing him to pull me down into the pillows. He presses play on the remote and sets it aside. As I settle into his side, he pulls a blanket over us.

“Once Upon a Time? Really?”

“Yeah. I thought we could finally start season 2.”

“It has been a while.”

A few hours later, the show is paused, and I’m straddling his hips, pointing at the screen behind me.

“You are not going to sit here and tell me that he does not look like you.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying, doll.”

“How do you not see it?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t.”

I huff and groan, flipping my hair out of my eyes, “I’d continue this argument, but I’m hungry.”

“Then let’s order some food.”

“I’ll get the menus.”

I stand up from his lap and skip into the kitchen. I gather the stack of menus from the drawer I stashed them in and quickly return to him. Foolishly, he has rolled onto his stomach so I get in another hit.

“Fifteen.” I laugh, sitting on his back.

He pushes himself onto all fours. I toss the stack of papers up, lunging to wrap my arms and legs around his torso so I don’t fall. He sits back on his heels with me still wrapped securely around him.

“You’re a jerk.” I grumble, releasing him and falling to the pillows beneath me.

I swat his butt again, “Sixteen. Now what do you want to eat?”

“Throw me some options.” He says, picking up a few of the scattered menus and looking them over.

“Well, we have the usual: Chinese, pizza, Thai, Indian…”

“Pizza sounds good.”

“Pizza it is.” I bite my lip, “Um… do you have your phone on you?”

He groans, falling back on me.

“God, you’re heavy.”

“That’s rude.”

“Just get up and go get your phone.”

“Yes ma’am.”

I groan with a little exaggeration as he rolls off of me, but once he’s on his feet, I add another hit to the count.

“Seventeen.”

I watch him disappear down the hall to our bedroom before cleaning up the rest of the menus and returning them back to the kitchen drawer. As I’m walking back to our pile, he catches me around my waist and lifts me up with one arm.

“Why?”

He drops me into the pillows and offers me his phone, “Because I can.” He lays down next to me, once again on his stomach. “Go ahead.”

“It’s no fun if you let me do it.” I say, dialing the number to the pizza place.

“So the appeal is in my resistance?”

“More or less.”

I put the phone to my ear and once the call is answered, I place our order. I thank the guy on the other end of the line and hang up.

“So we have thirty minutes.”

“And what do you propose we do with that thirty minutes?”

“We can make cupcakes.”

“I have to stand up again?”

“Yes, you do.” I pat his butt twice, “We’ll call that eighteen and nineteen.”

I get up from the makeshift bed and go to the kitchen. I set the preheat on the oven and take the cupcake mix from the cabinet. I get everything else I need and get to mixing the batter. Bucky doesn’t come into the kitchen until I’ve added the batter to the cups, put the pan in the oven, and set the timer.

“Thanks for the help, babe.”

He chuckles, grabbing my hips and lowering his lips to my shoulder.

“We still have around twenty minutes.”

“Uh-huh.”

I close my eyes, leaning against him as his lips move to my pulse point, his teeth gently nibbling at the spot.

“I know the perfect way to pass the time.”

“And how is that?”

He turns me in his arms and picks me up, my legs wrapping around his waist. He sets me on the kitchen island. His hand moves up to the side of my neck before moving to gently grasp my throat as his lips come down against mine. He starts to lay me back, his lips moving down my chest.

His hands move beneath me. His fingers curl around the band of my panties. My hips bounce as he yanks them down, quickly sliding the thin fabric down my legs and dropping it to the floor.

“Bucky…”

He shushes me and moves to bury his face between my thighs. My fingers thread into his hair, pulling in time with the movements of his tongue. The countertop is cold against my heated skin. His fingertips dig into my thighs as he keeps them apart.

He moans against me. My own noises reach the ceiling.

His tongue teases my entrance, slowly working me higher. All of his movements are slow, painfully slow, agonizingly slow. I know he’s trying to drag this out as long as he can, taking full advantage of his twenty minutes.

I practically scream his name as the timer goes off and FRIDAY notifies us of the pizza’s arrival.

“That was quite the appetizer.” He mutters, a satisfied smirk spread across his face.

“Fuck you.”

“Later.”

I shake my head, “FRIDAY, can you let security know they can send the delivery guy up?”

“Of course.”

I hop off the counter and collect my panties from the floor. I pull them back on and grab a towel from the counter to take the cupcakes out of the oven. I leave them to cool while Bucky meets the guy at the elevator and pays for the pizza. When he joins me in the pillows again, he gives me the pizza box and picks up the television remote.

“Now, do we keep watching this or are you going to keep comparing me to the Mad Hatter?”

“I’ll drop it.” I reply reluctantly.

“Good.”

He leans in and kisses me. Then he starts the show and opens the pizza box in my hands. We both take a slice, enjoying the comfortable silence as we eat and watch the show. Over the next few hours, as the light in the room dims with the setting sun before completely giving way to night, we eat the entire pizza and order Chinese; we frost the cupcakes while we wait on the food. I also get up to twenty-eight.

He takes a dab of frosting onto his finger as I finish up the last cupcake. I watch him out of the corner of my eye, weary of his intentions. I take a slow deep breath as his finger graze my neck, his tongue slowly following the line in succession.

“Why?” I sigh.

“Because you only have two more, and I intend to earn them.”

“Then you gotta work harder than that.”

He nods, stooping to lift me over his shoulder and taking the container of frosting into his hand. He carries me to the bedroom and tosses me onto the bed. He sets the frosting on the nightstand and pulls his shirt off. I giggle, biting my lip and watching him as he climbs onto the bed and kneels between my parted thighs. He eyes me, arching in eyebrow at me.

I roll my eyes and follow his lead, taking off my tank top. For the added effect, I let my hair fall free.

“Much better.”

He reaches past me to grab the frosting and takes another dollop onto his fingertip. He trails his tongue down the midline of my abdomen, starting at the valley between my breasts and stopping just above my belly button. I lick my lips as he dips down, tracing the line in reverse with a broad stroke of his tongue.

“You know, there’s food on its way here right now.”

“And when it gets here, I’ll pay for it and leave it on the counter while you keep your sweet, little ass right here.”

“Is that an order, Sergeant?”

“You sure you wanna play that game, sweetheart?”

“Yes, Sergeant, I am.”

FRIDAY’s voice prevents his next statement, “Your meal has arrived.”

“Send it up.” He says, his gaze never wavering from mine, “You stay put, and yes, that’s an order.”

“Yes, Sergeant.”

He growls softly before backing off of the bed. When he turns his back to me, I move to catch him for the twenty-ninth time, succeeding in the endeavor. He gives me a warning gaze before turning and leaving the room. I can hear him speaking to the delivery person. He thanks them and sends them on their way. Once he’s back in our doorway, he leans against the threshold.

“FRIDAY, please make sure we remain uninterrupted for the remainder of our twenty-four hours.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Also feel free to shut down for the rest of the night.”

“As you wish, Mr. Barnes.” There’s a short pause, “And Mr. Barnes?”

“Yes, FRIDAY?”

“Happy birthday.”

“Thank you.”

She bids us a good night and shuts down as requested.

I reach out for him. He smiles, taking my hands and threading his fingers with him. As he comes further onto the bed, he pins my hands above my head and kisses me, sweetly at first and then harder as the kisses become more fervent. His hips rut slowly against mine, his hard length grinding against my clothed core.

I turn my face away from his, a wanton moan erupting from me as he presses hard into me.

“Bucky…”

“What?”

“Sergeant, please…”

He releases my hands and pulls away abruptly. He twists the fabric of my panties in his hands, tearing them to shreds. He stands to takes off his shorts and boxers. In the next moment, he’s hovering over me, his fingers teasing at my entrances, slowly pushing in and stretching me equally as slow.

“Come on, Sarge…”

“Patience, baby doll. I’d hate to hurt you.”

I roll my hips into his touch, urging him to give me more in the only way I know that doesn’t involve begging. He chuckles, pulling his fingers out and sucking them into his mouth. My bottom lip is held tight between my teeth as I look into his eyes.

“I love you.” he whispers.

I smile, raising my hand to the side of his neck, “I love you too.”

He positions himself at my entrance. I sigh in content once he’s fully seated inside of me, his hips flush to mine.

“Fuck…” he groans, his head dropping as he begins to pull back.

My nails dig into his shoulders as his pace begins to pick up. I roll my hips up to meet his thrust for thrust. He clenches his jaw, his eyes squeezing shut.

I gasp when he pulls completely out and lays on his side beside me. He turns me onto my side, one hand on my hip and the other against my back angling me forward. The hand on my hips moves down to hook around my thigh. He hooks my leg over his before he repositions himself and quickly slides back in, the new angle providing a direct pass to my g-spot with each thrust.

I prop myself up on my forearm, my hands fisting around the sheets. My soft moans become choked screams as his pace become hard and unrelenting. When his fingertip begins to move in circles of the swollen bundle of nerves at my apex, I take in a sharp breath.

I suppose a few minutes pass before the knot in my lower abdomen comes undone. My body convulses against his as my walls tighten around him, pulling his release from him.

I fall flat to the mattress as his arms wrap around me.

“I should make you wait more often.”

“It wasn’t so bad waiting.”

“Did you have a good day?”

“I did, but it’s not over yet.” He kisses my neck, “How about another shower, some cooled Chinese food, a cupcake or two and one last movie before bed?”

“Sounds perfect.”

So, a little while later, we’re settled back into our pillows with our Chinese food and cupcakes. We watch some random romantic comedy while we eat. I’m falling asleep against before it’s halfway over. He kisses the top of my head and turns off the TV. When he turns to put the remote on the table beside him, I remember that I owe him one more.

“Thirty.” I mumble sleepily, “Happy birthday, Bucky.”

“Thank you, baby, and thank you for today.”

He holds me close as I drift to sleep.

MEANWHILE…

“This would have been a lot easier if they were here.” Natasha says, glancing up from the newly loaded magazine in her hand.

“I know, but she’s been planning this for two weeks.” Steve replies, adjusting the belts on his suit, “All she wanted was twenty-four hours. I just couldn’t tell her no. Besides, they’ve earned this, and it’s not like we knew this mission was coming.”

“He’s right.” Tony adds, his eyes focused on a tablet in his hands.

“Did you just… Did he just agree with Steve?” Clint gasps.

“Just look at this and shut up.”

Tony offers the tablet to Steve, who stands closest to him. Steve takes it, smiling softly when he looks down at the screen. Natasha and Clint step to either side of him, looking at the screen as well.

“What’s a few more hours?” Natasha whispers, taking in the sweet sight on the screen.

Lying there, his arms tight around her, Aria and Bucky sleep in a mess of pillows and blankets on the living room floor.

“Happy birthday, Buck.” Steve whispers, turning off the tablet screen and setting the device down.