#it’s BUCK he has to be weird about that blonde man idk what to tell you

[1doesnotsimplyhavejust1fandam]

We as a fandom do not talk about Buck’s whole “agonizing over not telling Eddie he’s bisexual” crisis enough. He felt like he was lying to Eddie because he didn’t tell him something new he’d discovered about himself! Tommy dismissing him for not being able to tell Eddie he’s bi yet certainly contributed to Buck’s panic about it, but the whole “lying to my best friend” part came entirely from Buck himself. And he goes to Maddie about his crisis because his big sister has always had good advice for him, and he trusts her with his relationship with Eddie. This tells us two things:

1. For some reason, Buck was worked up about not yet having told Eddie, specifically, that he is bisexual. He goes to Maddie and omits half the truth from her, even though it could help him figure out why he’s so anxious about hiding the truth from Eddie. But he doesn’t panic about his sister either finding out he’s bisexual, or attempting to hide it from her until the pronoun slip. His panic is clearly and explicitly devoted to the thought of lying to his best friend. Not even his sister, who has known and loved him his whole life, was like his mother for much of their childhoods, and was his greatest and sole champion for most of his life, elicits such panic from Buck. He’s nervous about telling Eddie, but everyone else in his life, he comes out to essentially with ease at the Madney wedding.

Now, for some people, this might make it seem like Buck is aware, even subconsciously of his feelings for Eddie, but I’m not sure I agree. And that is because of the second thing:

2. Buck is 100% incapable of not telling Eddie everything about himself and/or his life. Time and again, we have seen Buck using Eddie as a confidant, a safe space, and a comfort for himself when he’s in crisis or feeling particularly reflective. We see this in the og kitchen scene, when Buck, with a rather shaky segue, apologizes again to Eddie for abandoning the Diazes during the lawsuit, in a scene that feels like Buck’s been holding his words in and they’ve suddenly forced their way out to be heard by Eddie. We see it when Buck tells Eddie all about the first dinner with the Buckley parents, notably, the only on-screen conversation Buck has about the dinner and Buck’s feelings about it before the dinner is immediately overshadowed by the Daniel of it all. It’s all directed towards Eddie. And then we got Buck coming over to Eddie’s house after the lightning strike, asking for space from questions and concerns, and then later opening up about how conflicted and confused he feels after dying for three minutes (and seventeen seconds). And yes, even Buck eventually coming out to Eddie, the only scene where Buck is shown to be 100% intentionally coming out (yes, this is me admitting that I’m still iffy on the soot being on purpose or just an accident that Buck was fine with using to come out to everyone else he loves).

All of this to say, Buck cannot be aware or even subconsciously suspicious that he is in love with Eddie. Yet. This is a guy that thought taking his time to come out to his best friend comfortably constitutes as lying. He is honest with Eddie, and he clearly hates hiding things from his best friend because he gets all weird and uncomfortable about it. If Buck knew that he is in love in with Eddie, we, the audience, would know too. And that’s including the general audience. This isn’t a case where Buck could admit it to someone else and feel a little better that it’s out there, even though Eddie still doesn’t know. This is a man who is incapable of lying to his best friend, or keeping a secret from him. Not only is he incapable of it, he hates it! He doesn’t care about over sharing, he is just desperate for Eddie Diaz to know every part of him and love him anyway.

All I can say to that is, if we see a Buck love realization first, we’d better hope Eddie gets knocked into shape very soon after, or we’re in for a very angsty arc where Buck is “rejected” until Eddie realizes his own feelings. It won’t be a sweet and goofy sequence of Buck avoiding Eddie for a few days once he’s realized, and then telling Eddie magically makes Eddie realize that he feels the same in that very moment. It’ll be Buck accidentally running into Eddie the moment he walks into work the morning after he figures out his feelings, and immediately spilling his love out on the operations floor in front of Eddie and the entire team if he has to. Some sort of gentle rejection on Eddie’s part, and then the boys both shutting down instantly. Then multiple scenes of Buck believing he’s destroyed everything, while Eddie speed runs his gay crisis straight (heh) into a love realization regarding his best friend that he just rejected not three days ago.

So. Do we want the angsty “rejection” route? Or do we want an Eddie realization first, which would contain no less screaming, crying, and throwing up by Eddie, but would spare us the secondhand embarrassment of a Buck so in love that he simply can’t lie to the man he loves’ face for more than a second. Since it would be incredibly cheesy and adorable for their love realizations to happen at the same time, and for them to be ready to admit their feelings in the same scene/episode, I don’t think that’s what’s going to happen. It’s 9-1-1. If there is angst and pain to be had, before leading to a beautiful, fulfilling love, then they’ll be going that route over the simultaneous love confessions.

[natalia-alianovna-romanova101]

Daisies

So I wrote fanfic. It’s on Wattpad too called the same thing. I’m sorry if this sucks this is my first real story. It’s mostly Stucky but there is xfemreader at the end of it. Based slightly on a fanfic I read about Peter Parker but definitely not the same. Hope you like it idk if I will write an epilogue but lemme know if you want to see one.

Warnings: my shit writing and swear words its sad (i think idk i almost cried but i’m emotional so maybe it wont be for you)

"Hi I'm James but everyone calls me Bucky what's Your name,"  The young brunette said holding his hand out to help the small blonde boy stand up

"my names Steve, people just call me Steve," 

Bucky starts to brush the leaves off Steve's shirt. 

"Well you looked lonely so I we can be friends now," Bucky said smiling grabbing Steves small hand to drag him to the swings

Bucky walked down the sidewalk of New York. Next week it will have been a year. It was early in the morning just a few minutes before the flower shop opened. He had done this a million times since he had died. Every morning at 7 am he would stop at Starbucks for a black coffee then walk a few blocks to the small flower shop on the corner, buy 1 daisy then walk to the cemetery. He didn't understand why he did this. Steve had left him. But he couldn't let go.

"C'mon Stevie we are teenagers we gotta have a little fun," 

"getting fake IDs to vote is fun,"

"thats illegal,"

"so,"

"so we could get arrested and then never vote. What if we went to Coney Island instead,"

"no,"

"yes. we are going let’s go,"

7:30. That's when the flower shop opened. Every day. He was there at 7:30 everyday. 

The girl who had run the shop was never late. She had become accustomed to keeping fresh daisies underneath her desk for the man who came every morning. They had become close, not yet friends but getting there. She knew about Steve but not enough. She knew who Bucky was what he was made to be, and always accepted him. 

Steve was bleeding again. He was always bloody. But Bucky didn't care. He had developed feelings for his best friend. Feelings he didn't understand. 

"Steve you have to stop getting in fights what if I don't get there in time next time and you get seriously hurt."

"c'mon buck I'll be fine you know that. Why do you worry so much,"

"because I care about you,"

"I know that but you still care a lot. Even my mother has stopped worrying about me,"

"don't worry about it,"

"Why do you care so much Buck c'mon tell me," 

"Because I'm fucking in love with you Steve and if you died I don't know what I would do with myself ok. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Steve stopped walking staring up at Bucky. 

"stop looking at me like that I know it's wrong and stupid but I can't help it."

"Bucky... I love you too but we both know this can't happen."

"no one has to know it could just be you and me punk, no labels," 

"Bucky..."

Bucky kissed him. He didn't know where it came from but it felt right. And Steve didn't pull away which is always a plus. Pushing him against the wall his body was on fire. He knew they couldn't ever be together really but maybe just maybe they could be more than friends. He broke the kiss, looking at Steve breathless. 

"See no one has to know," 

Steve nodded leaning back in

Bucky walked into the flower shop right on time

"Good morning James how are you today," the soft voice of the store owner said as soon as he walked in.

"I had another panic attack yesterday," He said looking down ashamed. He hated his anxiety but he learned fast that she would see right through any of his lies. 

"Oh James it's all right." She walked around the counter to hug him. She was much shorter than him so she had to stand on her toes to get her arms around his shoulders. 

He didn't understand why he trusted her so much. Something about her presence was comforting. He only ever let Steve hug him and only his therapist (and Sam because of his therapist) knew about his anxiety problems and PTSD. But he found her comforting. 

"Next time call me ok. I used to get these all the time. It's alright there's nothing to be ashamed about."

She took his hands into her taking off the gloves he knew she hated so much. He normally took them off before he walked in but today he couldn't he was too ashamed. He knew she didn't hate his metal arm, but he didn't know just how much she loved it.

 “What’s your favorite flower?” the question had come out of nowhere. They had been sitting on couch cushions that had been moved to the floor listening to the radio

“What,” Steve asked

“Well everyone assumes that only girls like flowers but I like flowers too, my favorite are sunflowers. What about you” 

“Daisies. They are elegant,”

“Elegant really where did you even learn that word,” Bucky laughed

“My mother, now stop bullying me you asked,”

“Oh Stevie I thought it was gonna be roses or something not daisies. They are so boring,”

“No they aren’t,”

“Ya they are,”

“No they aren’t,” Steve picked up a pillow and hit Bucky with it. Bucky looked at him shocked before getting his own pillow to hit Steve with.

"Now the usual I presume," she asked calmly

He could only nod in response. She walked behind the counter picking a daisy and placing the gloves next to the vase. After handing it to him, she continued to walk around the store. Confused, Bucky followed her. She stopped in front of a display of orangy pink roses. 

"These are english roses, also known as the Grace Flower. They are my favorite," She said picking one out

"They are pretty," he said inspecting the flower. Not as pretty as her though

No

Bucky couldn't think like that 

He just lost Steve a year ago

he left you  the voice in his head said 

He hated the voice in his head. 

Bucky stood in front of the memorials. The funeral had just finished but he couldn’t leave just yet. 

“Hey,” Sam said softly trying not to disturb the silence

“I know this is hard for you Bucky,”

“You don’t know anything,” Bucky snapped back. Sam would never understand what it felt like, he never lost someone like this

“He was my friend too you know, you aren’t the only one who lost someone Bucky,”

Bucky looked over at Sam. His eyes red from crying darkened

“I loved him and he chose her,” 

Sam’s face fell. He didn’t know about them. What they had before the war. Only the stories that they told.

Bucky turned around and walked away

"I am going to come with you today James. Figured it's time I met Steve. Now c'mon," She started walking to the door. 

He walked over to the counter to get his gloves. He knew it was stupid but he couldn't leave without his gloves. 

"James leave them. It's time to let those go,"

"But it's embarrassing," he argued. He didn't want her to be seen with a freak like him.

"No it isn't now c'mon it's I can't keep the shop closed all day," he sighed and walked over to the door. 

It was almost 2am but Bucky wasn't tired, he didn't think he would ever have to sleep again. Running hand in hand with Steve around Brooklyn was a dream come true.

It was raining and he knew Steve could get sick but it was summer so it couldn't be that cold. Besides not anything that hasn't happened before.

Steve was a terrible dancer but he didn't care. Spinning and dancing in the rain hand in hand he was having the time of his life. He kissed Steve, holding his face with his hands, continuing to spin around. 

"Buck my parents are gonna be worried when I don't wake up early tomorrow."

"Who cares,"

"My parents,"

"oh c'mon Stevie you can't tell me you haven't been having fun. Just one more hour please," he bit his lip knowing Steve wouldn't be able to resist. 

"Fine," 

After kissing Steve again, Bucky laughed and dragged Steve with him further. The night was beautiful and he wished it would never end. 

She had held his hand the whole way ignoring the stares. His metal hand. The one he hated. But she walked the whole 15 minutes from the flower shop to the cemetery hand in hand with him talking about the buildings. Bucky didn't know how he was feeling. 

They made it to the cemetery. Passing the Captain America Memorials, Bucky walked all the way to the back of a small gravestone in the corner. 

Steve Rogers grave. Not Captain Americas. The one that Bucky had done himself. He had bought a small tombstone and buried Steves ashes there to honor Steve. Not captain america. The 90 pound asthmatic that he fell in love with. 

battle of wakanda infinity war

About 15 minutes in Bucky found Steve in the woods fighting off the creatures.

He helped him fight off the rest in the area then turned to Steve and pulled him into a kiss. 

"for good luck," Bucky said before running back out to the battlefield to help the racoon with the gun

'weird' he thought

She let go of his hand as he walked closer to the grave to give him some space. 

This happened for the next week. He started really talking to the flower shop owner, got her number. She had to help him work the phone though. They talked all the time now. Bucky could finally feel himself moving on. 

On the one year anniversary of Steve's death Bucky went alone. He brought the daisy to the grave and knelt down.

"Steve I don't know what would have happened if we hadn't "died" in the army ending up 70 years in the future. Maybe we would have made it to the end of the line like you always said. But clearly it wasn't meant to be. I think I am ready to let you go now. I met a girl. You would love her. You clearly loved Peggy more than me. But that's ok I hope you had a great life. Your grandchildren always love to talk about you. I will never regret the days I spent with you completely in love. But I had lost you a long time ago. Thank you." 

He was ready. He left the cemetery walking to the closest flower shop (not the one he usually went to) picking up a bouquet of English roses. He walked to your small flower shop on the corner of the block where it had always been. As soon as the other customer left he walked in, hiding the roses behind his back. 

"James long time no see," She laughed at herself. She was adorable. 

"Please y/n call me Bucky," He walked over pulling the roses from behind his back. 

Her face lit up  "Those are my favorite thank you. What's the occasion?" 

"Will you go out with me," he looked at her hopefully

"of course I will," She hugged him

And for the first time on years, Bucky finally felt truly happy

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day Three Hundred Twenty-Nine: Watermelon ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Uzumaki Naruto ] [ SasuHina, NaruSaku, pregnancy ] [ Verse: Best Years of Your Life ] [ AO3 Link ]

Watermelon isn’t exactly something Sasuke’s really considered when it isn’t Summer. To him, it’s a mysterious fruit that only exists when the sun is shining and the temperature is enough to melt your shoes to the sidewalk if you don’t walk quickly enough. Otherwise, it’s like a cryptid: you swear you saw it once, but only when it wants you to.

But, he’s got a bit of a dilemma on his hands. You see, Sasuke is married. Newly so...sort of. It’s been about a year and a half. And Hinata - his wife, his darling, his missing piece - is about three months pregnant.

And she is craving watermelon.

...in the dead of Winter.

At first, he gives her a confused blink. “...how am I supposed to find watermelon now? It’s too cold.”

Sipping her tea, it’s Hinata turn to look befuddled. “...I’m...pretty sure there’s imports from further south. Where do you think all the other f-fruits come from, Sasuke?.”

He then proceeds to feel like a massive idiot. A faint hint of red tinges the tips of his ears. “Er...right. I’ll just…” He gestures. “I’ll run to the store, see if I can find some.”

“Thank you.”

“Anything else you’ve been craving lately? I’ll try to get a few things in case you change your mind.”

Her lips pout. “I haven’t been that bad, have I…?”

“Not really, but if I’m gonna go…”

She sighs. “...peanut butter. Cucumber. And...pretzels.”

“...all right then. Do we need anything else?”

“Check the list on the fridge. I’ve been t-trying to keep track.”

“Got it. Text me if you think of anything else, okay?”

“I will!”

Lifting from his seat, Sasuke takes a moment to press lips to the crown of her head, making a pitstop in the kitchen for the list before heading out to the car. Thankfully the list of necessities (even counting Hinata’s goodies) isn’t too long. Shouldn’t take him too much time to zip in, cross them all off, and then head home.

Simple, right?

Pulling into the parking lot, Sasuke double checks the list. Most is written in Hinata’s bubbly, tidy handwriting, with his own scratchy scrawl adding her little addendum for pregnancy snacks. Phone, wallet, and keys in his pockets, he leaves the vehicle behind and heads in.

It’s a bit busy, but thankfully not too crowded. A cart’s grabbed, wheeling it through all the proper aisles. By now, he’s more than familiar with the place’s layout. He’s been coming here since he was a kid with his mom, after all.

Last, he hits up the produce section.

The little sprinklers give the coolers a spritz, but that’s not where Sasuke’s headed. The little pre-packaged bits of melon are stupidly expensive compared to a whole one by the pound. Sure, it’s all a bit high given the season, but he can’t not get what Hinata wants. She’s currently in the middle of letting an entire new person take up residency in her middle. The least he can do is shell out a few extra bucks to help make that a bit more bearable.

Approaching the melons in question, he flicks eyes between them all. Some are long and thin, some are stout and plump. Is there...any difference? Tentatively, he picks up one of the rounder fruits, and...gives it a tap.

...he really doesn’t know what it’s supposed to sound like, though. He just knows everyone does that.

Sasuke gives his surroundings a furtive glance. Thankfully no one is watching him… This is the last thing he needs to get, and he doesn’t want any weird looks for his attempts to find a decent melon.

“Hey! Sasuke!”

...oh, great.

Pulling up alongside his friend’s cart, none other than Naruto gives a grin. “Bit out of season for that, huh?”

“...Hinata wants one,” the Uchiha explains a bit flatly.

“Ohhh...cravings, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Man, I know how that goes...Sakura’s been ordering me around to get her all sorts of stuff lately! It wouldn’t be so rough if she didn’t get so grumpy about it.”

Sasuke can’t help a small scoff. “Hormones making her temper even worse than usual?”

“Oh man, you have no idea!” After a pause to glance around as though fearing she’ll appear behind him, Naruto leans forward and whispers, “She went on a huge rant this morning cuz I left the toilet seat up! I’ve done that for ages, but all of a sudden it’s like I insulted her mother or something!”

The Uchiha’s nose wrinkles. “...you leave the toilet seat up?”

“I - what? Are you gonna scold me now, too?”

“...you ever try to sit on a toilet when the seat is up? Not fun. But still...yeah, the hormones can be a killer. I take it you’re on a mission to make up for it, now?”

“Ugh, yeah...that and restock on her current craving…” Reaching into his cart, Naruto pulls up a jar, looking disgusted. “Green olives. That’s so gross!”

“They’re not that bad.”

“Says you! Your favorite food is a vegetable, you can’t be trusted.”

“Technically, a tomato is a fruit.”

“Whatever!” The blond replaces the jar with a sigh. “Every time she eats some, her breath smells so rank! And if I tell her, she gets mad again! I even got her some breath mints, and she got all offended!”

“You just don’t know how to read people, Naruto. Especially women.”

“Hey man, I’m trying my best! I just can’t wait until she has this kid and goes back to normal...she might be grumpy most of the time, but nothing like this…!”

Sasuke sighs, giving his friend a sympathetic smile.

“What about you? Any disasters yet?”

“Well, she hasn’t gotten angry at anything.”

“Really?”

“No. But she cries at the drop of a hat. She stepped on a bug on the kitchen floor the other day and sobbed about it for like fifteen minutes.”

“Whoa…”

“I mean, Hina’s always been a softie. But it’s like Sakura’s temper: cranked up to eleven. Which hasn’t been so bad, but man...seems like every time I turn around she’s crying about something. She even sulked all day last Wednesday because I only said I loved her once before I left for work. And she was still mopey when I got home! Took me forever to get her to tell me why.”

At that, Naruto laughs out loud. “Wow, yeah...that’s pretty bad, dude. But I think I’d trade you any day of the week. Tears aren’t as bad as shouting and glaring…”

“Sorry, no exchanges on wives. I’m pretty happy with what I’ve got, tears and all. You got yourself into that temper trap.”

The Uzumaki sighs with a pout. “Yeah, yeah...I mean, don’t get me wrong, she’s great. Smart, and funny, and sassy! And don’t even get me started on the se-”

“Don’t go there, please.”

“I just wish she’d chill out sometimes. But then again...I think my volume gets on her nerves. Guess we’ve all got something that drives people crazy, huh?”

Sasuke blinks. In all honesty...not much comes to mind when he tries to come up with something Hinata does that bugs him. Now he wonders if she’d say the same about him…

“Anyway, uh...guess I’ll leave you to your melon picking, huh?”

“What? Oh...yeah.”

“Here...lemme see…” Taking the fruit, Naruto puts it to his ear and thumps. “...yup! That’s a good one!”

“...how can you tell?”

“I dunno, I just...know! Trust me, she’ll love it. Better get it back to her before she starts sobbin’, huh?” The blond gives a cheeky grin before waving. “Later!”

At a bit of a loss, Sasuke glances down to the watermelon before just...putting it in the cart. Naruto better be right about this…

One stint in the check out line later, and he’s loading up the bags to head for home. Everything’s been crossed off his list, and it’s only been about half an hour. Hopefully Hinata’s all right...and her craving hasn’t changed.

“Hinata?” he calls, juggling the bags and the door handle.

“Coming!” She quickly joins him, taking a bag or two and shutting the door. “That was quick!”

“Was it?”

“Mhm!”

“Oh...ran into Naruto at the store. Stopped and had a chat.”

“Oh, that was nice! Did he know anything interesting?”

“Eh, not really...he was on craving-food duty, too.”

She makes a sound of understanding. “Poor Sakura...she’s been having really bad leg c-cramps the last few days. It’s made her a bit, um...short-tempered, seems like. I was talking to her this morning.”

“...oh yeah?”

“Mhm.”

“...you doing okay?”

“Oh, yes! I’m fine.”

“...all right. Let me know if that changes, all right?”

“...Sasuke…?”

“Just want to be sure you’re comfortable.”

There’s a pause, and then tears well up in Hinata’s eyes, lip trembling. “Y...you’re so sweet…!”

Aw, jeez… “Look, uh...let’s get stuff put away, and I’ll cut open your watermelon.”

“Okay!” Immediately chipper again, Hinata beams, carrying said melon into the kitchen. “I’ve been looking forward to this a-all day!”

After a pause, Sasuke just snorts. So much fuss over one little melon...

                                                          .oOo.

     This is...super random xD I honestly was at a loss as to what to write for this one, so uh...this is very much out of thin air. idk how pregnancy cravings really work, so hopefully this isn't too unbelievable lol      Poor boys, running around keeping their ladies happy x3 But it'll all be worth it in the end, tears and tempers and all, haha!      Anyway, it's sups late and I've got stuff to do yet, so that's all from me! Thanks for reading~

[the-canary]

Weekends Like These. - S.R

Summary: You’ve seen him here and there throughout your little outings. You just never that it was going to turn into something else. (Modern!Reader/Steve Rogers) 

Prompt: “The hold you have on me is unsettling. It makes me restless, but I like it.”

A/N: this is for @bvcks writing challenge. ahh, i tried to focus on something like what i try to do on the weekends and it tail spinned into this. idk it’s really any good but i like the tone of it. 

Feedback is always appreciated. 

You’re living in New York. Greatest city in the world, shouldn’t you be happier?

At least, that’s what the Hamilton song told you once, but since moving you had felt nothing but tired, drained, and alone. It wasn’t like you had come here alone on your own. Wanda had been the one to push you into looking for something in your field when nothing came up in your sleepy hometown. She had even helped you moved into a cramped little apartment, that shouldn’t really be called such a thing, across from hers. However, both Maximoff twins have already established themselves in the city and had each other when they were here -- they didn’t, like you, have canceled plans with friends (Wanda and Viz) because they were working overtime in their little shop on a weekend.

You were used to being alone, but this loneliness –New York loneliness- was different than what you had felt before. In a way it was driving you mad: how could you be on a street full of people and still feel like the loneliest, most miserable person in the room?

However, for now, you just had to keep moving with your brunch reservation. Yet, you weren’t expecting a tall, blond man to already be sitting there instead. You were at a loss for a moment, wondering if things had gotten mixed up and whether you could ask someone to be moved, but all the staff seemed to be busy at peek brunch hour.  

The blond looks up from his cell phone, as you question hesitantly: “Excuse me, are you waiting for someone?”

“I was,” he answers with a sigh. You notice tired blue eyes like the man hasn’t slept in days. It makes you pause for a moment, the man obviously needed more relaxation than you ever did in that moment.

“Wait, did they send you over here?” he questions as you shrug, ready to excuse yourself when he gets up and pulls out the chair in across from his. You blink in confusion as he gives you a small but tired smile.

“My friend just canceled on me,” he explains as if sensing your instant distrust and well, he couldn’t blame you, “I’d hate to have lunch alone, and if you didn’t mind--”

“Okay,” you answer back with a growing smile of your own, as he looks at you with a look of confusion before it blooms into general excitement. Maybe, the loneliness you had been feeling was starting to override your own self-preservation.

“Okay, sure,” he agrees, though you think it more likely that he is just telling himself that as if to try to get himself to calm down, though you aren’t sure why.

You take a seat as he moves back to his. You’re silent and a little awkward for a second before the waiter comes in and asks if you would like anything to drink.

“I’m guessing you got canceled on too, huh?” he asks.

“My friend is having a spring sale at her shop at the last minute,” you explain a little annoyed that Wanda had decided to do so, but you could understand the need for the extra cash especially if there was a big event nearby.

“My friends barely just woke up,” the blond admits with a laugh, “Overworked until who knows when.”

You laugh as well, as the waiter comes back with your drinks. Blue eyes look at you before he states nervously while rubbing the back of his neck, relief that he wouldn’t spend brunch alone making him forget something so basic, but also maybe something else as well: “Oh, I’m Steve Rogers by the way.”

You state your name with a laugh before looking through the menu and wondering what you should have. There isn’t much talk between the two of you as you eat, but that someone is there makes it slightly less scary and lonesome.

And that’s the first time you spend a weekend with Steve Rogers.

The second time it happens is completely by mistake. You were simply walking, aimlessly looking around the space where Wanda’s shop was close to after you had spent the morning helping her when you notice a familiar figure standing near the fountain not too far away from the Lincoln Center. You pause, wondering what the man was doing there, ignoring the fact that he came to your mind every once and a while since that Saturday, but you were still too cautious to ask for his phone number after brunch.

You’re stuck between walking over to him and being mortified that you are going to make a fool of yourself when he turns slightly to his left and sees you there. You don’t notice blue eyes twinkling at a distance as he watches you look like you are talking to yourself.

You eventually get the courage to walk up to him, as he turns and pretends to be surprised to see you: “Hey Steve, what are you doing?”

Being stood up, is what he wants to say as he can’t help but sigh out. However, he doesn’t want to bother anyone with that as he shrugs.

“Had extra tickets to the Met,” he remarks, trying to hide the also evident disappointment in his tone of voice. You keep looking at him and obviously not letting you know that he had just bought them before his date had called him, “But some people canceled on me at the last minute.”

“Oh,” that’s all you manage to say before going between looking at the museum and Steve, “Do you want someone to accompany you?”

“I--” your question clearly catches him off-guard for a second, as you wait. Blue eyes stare at you as if waiting for the point where you are going to laugh and retract your remark, but instead, you’re patient though understanding if he did decide to say no.

“If you don’t mind,” he manages to state as you shake your head and tell him that you have nothing to do for the rest of the day.

“Lead the way,” you laugh as Steve motions you to follow him up the stairs that you were used to seeing on TV only every so often, but for now you were here for something completely different.

You don’t know how, but you end up visiting all three Met centers that day, as Steve had your attention the entire time, as he goes on and on about the artists and what he loves about each of them. You learn something new and for once, Steve doesn’t feel like he’s bothering anyone with all this, as he ignores the fluttering in his chest for now.  

“So, you’ve met this guy twice now?” Wanda asks, obviously very curious over what you had done after you had left her shop last weekend, “And he isn’t weird or anything, right?”

“Not from what I’ve seen,” you remark, thinking about how Steve was always kind though maybe a little too rash in brief stories he had shared about his youth.

“Then, why didn’t you get his phone number?”

“I don’t know,” is the only way you can answer that question as Wanda sighs, knowing that you were obviously more entranced with the history and art around than the blond hunk who had ended up inviting you.

It’s another three weeks afterward before Steve ends up finding you roaming around the Schwarzman Building after he had just gotten out of a lecture about Walt Whitman. Steve isn’t sure why he went, it was something that had caught his attention, but at the sight of you looking over the glass cases are part of another exhibit within the library, Steve couldn’t help but feel that he was in that one John Cusack movie.

Your eyes are sparkling over the little trinkets on display and he just wants to know what you are thinking, as you clutch the pile of books that are in your arms a little tighter.

“Once I pass’d through a populous city imprinting my brain for future use with its shows, architecture, customs, traditions,

Yet now of all that city I remember only a woman I casually met there who detain’d me for love of me…”

Steve freezes for a moment at the one piece of poetry that he seems to still remember from the mini-lecture and while he can’t help but start to overanalyze what it means to you and to him, everything else stops when he hears his name being called.

He wants to run, to have time to think of everything but your presence in front of him chases all those thoughts away.

“Steve, what you are doing here?” you ask him with a bright smile. He swears he stops thinking for a second, before smiling -- for once, he won’t overthink everything of his adult life and move forward with the little chances that he has been given.

“I was at the Walt Whitman lecture,” he explains.

Your attention is completely on him as he explains his love for the American Romantics and as you both end up going to lunch once more, not too far away from the library, and Steve can’t help but think that there has to be something more to this as silly as it may seem.

“So, you’ve met this gal three times now,” Bucky starts off before taking a sip of his beer, “But, you haven’t even tried getting her number.”

“It’s not that easy, Buck,” Steve tries to explain but his best friend gives him a look that he doesn’t believe his bullshit.

“Likes the art, poetry,” the man runs down the list of everything that Steve has told him, “Used to get into arguments with people over just about everything. This gal sounds perfect for ya, Stevie. What’s the problem?”

Blue meets blue and at that moment James knows, as he lets out a ragged sigh.

“Your luck’s gonna run out eventually, bud,” Bucky explains as best he can to get through Steve’s stubborn head, “Don’t make a choice you’re gonna regret.”

Steve doesn’t say anything, but he knows where his best friend is coming from. He just doesn’t want to hope that it won’t be all worth for nothing.

He sees you two weeks afterward, on the opposite of Broadway with a pamphlet in your hand and following a man within a blue shirt with a small group. Steve pauses for a moment, as he is able to watch you smile for a second while looking at the old buildings.

He wants to stop and ask --to say-- so many things, but instead, he keeps moving forward because he has things to do and the sea of New Yorkers keep pushing him farther and farther away.

Steve just didn’t think it would be the last time he saw you in a very long time.

“Come on, you’ve been moping around for a whole month,” Bucky declares as he watches Steve sit on his couch, “We gotta met Wan and her new friend.”

Steve pauses for a moment before frowning, as Bucky just shrugs.   

“Don’t worry about it,” Bucky shrugs, “I’m sure ya’ll find her again. Just wait.”

Steve doesn’t say a word as he moves back into his own room, fully knowing that his time and luck was going to run out eventually.

You aren’t sure what Wanda or Pietro had planned when they ask you to come over to visit them in their shared Brooklyn townhouse. Maybe, they had gotten tired of watching you go out every other weekend to find someone in-between 8.3 million people -- it was like finding a needle in a haystack and your friends worry about you just a tad too much.

Maybe, it was a stupid idea but there was so much more to it, you just weren’t what it meant. However, you kept moving forward with your life as best as you can. You end up going with Wanda to a cozy little farmer’s market not too far away from her home in order to get some more things for dinner.

Maybe, I should just give up, you think absentmindedly to yourself as you look at the flowers and fruits mingling together while sinking into your own self-doubt when you were going to see him again. But, this certainly wasn’t a Lifetime movie either.

It’s at that point when you hear it. Wanda’s voice mingling with two others, but one of these catches you off-guard the most. You look around while trying to calm your heart down.

“And where is this wonderful friend of yours, Wanda?”

Blue eyes meet yours for a split second as Wanda motions you to walk over. It’s then you can see the blond man biting his bottom lip, as you freeze for a good moment.

It seems that luck had finally been kind to both of you.

It’s a few weeks afterward between texting (you finally have each other’s phone numbers), gatherings with friends, and maneuvering between schedules to have everything finally settle in. It’s Saturday evening and you’re sitting in a small cafe with Steve across from you with a pastry and drink at the side. You aren’t sure how exactly you got to this point, it all seemed a bit serendipitous but at the sound of the soft music and the general sweet ambiance..it just seemed right.

“So what are you thinking about now?” you laugh, as he looks over the band playing in the back.

“That the hold you have on me is unsettling,” Steve admits, after finally admitting to himself after such a long time,  as you stop and look at him with wide eyes,  “It makes me restless, but I like it.”

“When did you turn into such a Walt Whitman?” you laugh, as he shakes his head at your comment.

“What I’m tryin’ to say is that,” Steve remarks with a bashful smile, “I would like to officially ask you on a date, be official after all these.”

You feel the embarrassment rushing up your spine as you look away bashfully before deciding it wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.

“So, would this be our first official date?” you ask as a smile blooms on his face, “Or would that have been back at the brunch place?”

There was actually so much to choose from by now.

“This,” Steve responds, “This would be a good start.”  

You, and maybe even Steve, had come a long way from the loneliness you had felt within such a big city and this was certainly the start of something new -- with only more lovely weekends and days to follow.