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scottymcgeesterwrites · 3 years

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Final Fantasy Review

Year: 1987 Original Platform: Famicom Also available on: Nintendo (NES), GameBoy Advance (Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls), PlayStation One (Final Fantasy Origins), PSP (Anniversary Edition) Version I played: PSP

Synopsis:

The world is in danger. Four monstrous fiends, each corresponding to an element of nature, have wreaked havoc on the world, causing each of the four elemental orbs (in later remakes, crystals) to turn dark. Four Heroes of Light, each holding their own orb, meet and band together to take on these fiends and restore nature to its proper balance.

Gameplay: The original game introduced the Job System. The six jobs are Warrior, Thief, Monk, Black Mage, White Mage, and Red Mage. Each have their own stats. You are free to name each of your heroes. Later on the game, each job can be upgraded.

We are introduced to a classic setup of turn-based combat. Final Fantasy was notable for being the first video game RPG to show your characters on the right and the enemies on the left; all previous video game RPGs had a first-person view with the enemy directly in front of you.You choose your action between Fight, Magic, Drink, Item or Run. Then the enemy takes their turn.

It’s a simple system that at the time was already well-known. It was really the Job System that intrigued players. Black Mages perform destructive magic, White Mages heal and restore, Warriors are the powerhouses, Monks deal damage without weapons, and Thieves can run from battles successfully (they cannot steal, as later games would introduce that). The game can be quite difficult on the original Famicom and NES. It was made at a time when technology was limited, so developers had to make the game harder so that people spent more time playing it. There’s a gaming term that I’ll be using in many of these Final Fantasy reviews called “grinding”. Grinding is when you end up having to run around and fight monsters for the sake of leveling up your characters. There is a lot of that in this game, as well as the early Final Fantasy games in general. Unlike games today, the direction isn’t fully laid out. You are thrown into the world and wander about from town to town to figure out where to go next. Instead of games like today where other non-playable characters (NPCs for short) tell you what to do in cutscenes and whatever, you actually have to approach the NPCs and find out the information. The overall effect is more open-world. You walk across fields and oceans and deserts. There are caves and other secret places to find more items. From a modern gamer’s perspective, the exploring can be quite bare and – for lack of better word – boring. The remakes, like the PSP version that I played, brightened it up with updated graphics. They also added a couple extra dungeons. I actually spent time in those extra dungeons believing they were part of the story, appalled by how difficult they were, when I later found out they were extras put in for the PSP version. That has happened a lot to me with remakes of old RPGs (Chrono Trigger for the DS, another example). A little more obvious sign would have helped to make me realize that I didn’t need to finish those extra dungeons. The pace is definitely slower than the other Final Fantasy games. Most of your time is spent grinding. Grinding can sometimes be a wary word when talking about video game RPGs. If an RPG is too boring or tedious, grinding is the last thing you want to hear. But even when an RPG is fun, grinding means that you need to spend time battling enemies, and that means hopefully you don’t have a huge backlog of other video games. It's probably why I never got around to finishing the original NES version on an emulator. Once and a while I'd be pumped up about going through with it but then as I played I just. . .got distracted by other video games that I wanted to finish.

You definitely need time and patience. The most aggravating thing about the original version (Famicom/NES) is that if your character is set to attack an enemy but another one of your characters defeats it first, that character attacks nothing but air when it's their turn. It was a very annoying issue that they fixed in all subsequent remakes. When comparing the original to any other version, the original always is the best way to experience the game. It can also be the hardest and most time-consuming. You would need to pay attention to this game entirely and not be distracted by anything else.

The PSP version is watered down. I found it infinitely easier than the NES version. I actually played them side-by-side to figure out at what point the difficulty branched off. Right away when you venture to save Princess Sara, I realized that the PSP version gives more XP per battle than the NES version. Hence, you have to grind more in the original version.

Graphics:

Everybody loves some 8-bits, but let’s be honest here – there’s a whole lot of black empty space going on when you battle.

But hey, that was due to the limitations at the time. Battles may seem more boring to you due to the lack of detail to catch your eye.

The later remakes added a floor or ground where appropriate. The PSP remake did a good job of giving a facelift to the original, as shown below. It has this cute, rounded feel to the characters.

(My favorite battle background was in the final battle.)

The opening FMV sequence is ripped straight from the Playstation One remake. That didn’t age well. It’s awkward as hell. Want to see how awkward it looks? It looks mad awkward. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Just look it up. I don’t want to sully this post by posting a screenshot. In my opinion, they should have created a brand new opening FMV sequence for the PSP version.

Story: The first several minutes of the game acts as a prologue. The Four Heroes of Light save a princess - Sara - from the clutches of Garland, and then the King of Coneria allows a bridge to be built for them to enter the world and save it. It’s not until that bridge is built that the game truly starts and the title screen actually displays – much like a late opening title in a movie. In retrospect, saving a princess probably seemed like the most common trope in video games throughout the '80's. Gamers would have been used to it by then. That short prologue acts like a trope-breaker. The average gamer would have probably expected the game to be like Mario or Zelda. Oh yeah, save the princess from some evil fiend, okay, got it. They would have then maybe been perked with interest when they "defeated" Garland so quickly, and then when the King of Coneria lets them pass into the world and the title screen opens up with the theme song, they maybe were like, "Ooooh. NOW it starts." Final Fantasy then plunged them into a wide open world.

The bulk of the story is mostly comprised of self-contained incidents. You run into someone who needs help with a thing so you do that thing and then you’re on your merry way again. You know what would be a great adaptation of this game? A Netflix series. It’s very episodic. First you deal with these pirates led by Bikke, then get a ship to sail across the land and go on a sort of delivery quest for a crown, a crystal eye, an herb, a magic key, until the main story picks up with defeating the Four Fiends and bringing light to the darkened orbs. There's no real huge spoiler other than the time travel paradox at the end, which had me wracking my head a bit. It's quite admirable that a game this early in video game console history produced a higher concept plot involving time travel. Music:

Composer Nobuo Uematsu created a legendary score that immediately became on par with the Mario and Zelda theme songs. The Prelude/Crystal theme – the harp-like scale that we are all familiar with – was actually composed last. Uematsu had complete the score when Sakaguchi approached him at the last minute realizing they needed music for the game’s introduction. None of them had any idea that the theme would become a staple for Final Fantasy.

Due to the technical limitations at the time, you can imagine that the soundtrack is limited, but even so it was still quite expansive for its time. There are several individual tunes for dungeons, for sailing your ship and for flying your airship. The map theme will have you humming it without realizing it.

Uematsu drew his inspiration from two sources – classic rock and living in Shikoku, an island off Japan. The melodic world map theme in Final Fantasy (and the rest of the series) derives from the picturesque memories he has of the island. The town theme is reminiscent of the sleepy villages – as he was never a city person. Meanwhile, the battle theme has undertones of rock music.

There’s only one battle theme, even when fighting bosses and the final boss, but the amazing thing is that it never gets old.

Final Fantasy games are known for their great battle songs. The opening bassline always gets you in the groove to fight. You’re fighting but want to sing at the same time. Maybe that’s the brilliance of Uematsu; because of the fact that you need to grind many times in these old Final Fantasy games, he created a tune that you wouldn’t get tired of because it’s not so serious or mundane.

Not to crap on other great developers, but other video game RPGs at the time of Final Fantasy didn’t quite have memorable battle music. Just look up the battle theme to the first Dragon Quest game (released before Final Fantasy). You can imagine how that simple tune could get old really quick. I could be pulling this out of my ass, but after Final Fantasy, it seemed that battle music in video game RPGs suddenly got better. If you listen to the Dragon Quest IV battle theme, there is a portion that sounds similar to the battle theme of Final Fantasy.

The PSP version adds more tracks, specifically to the boss battles, and I like how they incorporate the original battle motif thrown into the new battle songs. The original battle theme has a guitar and drums added, which is the style that Final Fantasy battle music was known for by then.

There is one last thing to note about the score that I found very interesting for its day and age. You see, in a movie score, you have themes and motifs, just like a video game score. But in a movie score, other tracks reference those themes and motifs. For example, you have The Raider’s March in the Indiana Jones films; that’s the theme for the character Indiana Jones. Then in the movie, whenever Indy does something badass, you hear his theme blare in that instance. Obviously the entire theme doesn’t play, but it is incorporated in snippets throughout.

Uematsu actually does this with the Town Theme. He incorporates it at the ending music in the epilogue. It took me a while to try to understand why. Then it hit me. The epilogue mentions the heroes becoming legends as people talk about them. Legends are told and spread in towns.

It’s a very small detail. It’s such a small detail that it could be nothing but if it is what I think it is, then it’s cool that he was already in the mindset of passing on themes and motifs throughout the game, treating it like a movie.

Notable Theme:

I already posted the main themes in the introduction, but here’s the original battle theme:

youtube

Verdict:

A strong debut to the Final Fantasy series. To a modern gamer though, you may be spoiled by the fast-paced, eye-catching video games of today. When console games first hit the market, developers had to create games that took longer than the average arcade game to finish, or else kids would get bored with their games in minutes and gee, wouldn’t that be a waste since they paid way more than a quarter? Thus, that’s another reason why old games are harder. Given the technical limitations at the time, developers couldn’t expand much on the game, so there’s a lot of leveling up and grinding because what else could you do? You know? Ultimately, playing a video game back then was all about honing your skill with that game.

Ideally, you could play through every Final Fantasy game in order of their release, and that would give you a greater sense of the evolution of the gameplay and the series as a whole. However, most people reading this (and me) are probably more modern gamers – and as such, our perspective is biased on what feels “exciting” and “remarkable”. The first Final Fantasy game could feel boring and tedious to you now, but if you put it in the context of when it was made, this was entertainment for hours on end. This is basically like watching one of those silent adventure films starring Douglas Fairbanks. Yeah, you’ve been spoiled with more amazing stuff like The Matrix and Star Wars, but golly – this stuff blew people’s minds back in the day.

Direct Sequel? No. However, there have been multiple remakes, which I have already listed above.

#final fantasy #final fantasy nes #final fantasy famicom #nobuo uematsu #square enix #square #squaresoft #final fantasy i #final fantasy origins #final fantasy psp #final fantasy anniversary edition #onvideogames #video games

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toomanysurveys9 · 4 years

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Does anyone know your bank pin number other than you? Who?

Probably not.

Have you ever had a boyfriend/girlfriend who was depressed?

That’s usually my job. -insert eye roll-

Would you be able to climb out your bedroom window to sneak out?

I wouldn’t need to since I’m an adult, but probably not. I would need a ladder anyways to do it.

What would you do if you found out the last person you called was pregnant/got someone pregnant?

I don’t know who I last called even was.

Can you taste the difference between brand name food and store brand food?

Some things, yes.

Would you be embarrassed to buy pads/tampons/condoms? Which one more?

I used to be embarrassed to buy all of them. Now I just turn a little red when I am buying condoms.

If a stranger went in your bedroom, would they be able to tell what gender you are from just looking at it?

I doubt it. Since there are 4 people basically living in it.

Are your parents gullible?

My mom might be to some degree. She tends to read things on facebook and believe it too easily.

Do you still own a VCR?

My mom would like to buy one since we have a million VHS tapes, but no.

About how much money have you spent on food in the past two weeks?

Uh, like $55 or something.

If you were in a car accident would the last person you kissed care?

I would hope so since we’re married.

If you were looking for a new pair of shoes where would you go?

Probably Walmart. They’re cheap.

How much was the last pair of shoes you bought?

It was Converse, so more than I usually spend on myself.

What color is the computer/laptop you’re on? Did you buy it yourself?

Black, and no. My parents bought it for me right before I graduated college because the one I bought myself right after I graduated high school wasn’t holding up anymore.

Do you have a second home?

I do not.

Would you be surprised if you saw the last person you texted smoking?

Kind of, yeah.

Does the smell of cigarettes, weed and beer repulse you?

I don’t really enjoy the smell of any of those things, but especially cigarettes.

Was the last person you kissed younger or older than you?

He is younger by a whole 22 days.

Do you think people have any misconceptions about you?

Oh, I am sure they do.

Have you ever purchased Girl Scout cookies?

I have, but not usually for me. I don’t really care for them.

Do you like waffles?

Sure. I don’t eat them often though.

Do you watch birthing videos on a day-to-day basis?

No. I used to watch birth vlogs on youtube when I was pregnant with Wyatt, but those don’t show everything. Just labor and then baby after, usually when they’ve been cleaned up a bit.

Do you find piercings/tattoos attractive?

Depends on the person, but sure.

Would you talk to someone you don’t know on the internet?

I have several times.

How often do you drink Monster?

Pretty much never these days.

Have you ever made totally pointless videos with your friends?

When I was younger, I did that a lot.

Do you like to buy those Warped Tour compilations?

No idea what those are.

Do you like sitting on the inside or outside of a restaurant booth?

I prefer the inside. But I’m almost always put on the outside so I can feed my babies, or assist them in feeding themselves. Because Jacob evidently can’t.

Do you own a nightgown?

I do not.

Have you ever made a house out of a giant cardboard box?

Kind of, yes.

Have you ever made a tent out of sheets in your bedroom?

Ohh yes. Many times.

Do your grandparents know how to operate a cell phone?

My grandpa on my dad’s side does not. My grandma on my dad’s side can barely. It’s interesting to see her comments on Facebook. My grandpa on my mom’s side can’t really. My biologically grandma on my mom’s side passed away, but she could handle a basic phone well. I’m sure she’d love the phones now. My grandpa’s girlfriend, who’s like a grandma, does really well with her phone.

Have you ever had sex or something like it?

I have two kids. What do you think?

Have you ever read a George Orwell book?

I don’t think so.

Have you ever worn fishnets?

Yeah. For Halloween.

How many piercings and tattoos do you have?

I don’t know what piercings are still open. I have 3 tattoos. I want more tattoos.

Is someone in your family affected by Asperger’s?

One of Jacob’s cousins.

In a hotel do you always nose through all the drawers and cupboards?

Not anymore.

Would you rather go out to eat or be eaten out?

Go out to eat. I’ve missed going out to eat, and I’m too tired to deal with having sex.

Do you always wear your seat belt?

Probably about 98% of the time.

Have you ever liked someone much older than you?

Celebrities.

Have you ever been in a play?

I was in a musical in middle school.

Do you have any secrets that nobody knows about?

Probably.

Is there ice cream in your freezer?

There is, actually.

Have you ever started to laugh but played it off as a cough successfully?

I’m sure I have.

Have you ever liked the lyrics of a band but hated the music?

Yup.

Does your bathroom have a window?

Unfortunately. I hate it.

Do you go somewhere to get your eyebrows done?

I do not.

When you were younger did you read the A Series Of Unfortunate Events books?

Some of them. I never finished the series though.

Who was the last band you saw live?

Does Ed Sheeran count?

Do you believe prayer really works?

I do not.

Are you a fan of the band Gym Class Heroes?

I liked a couple songs.

Frosted flakes or frosted mini wheats?

Lately, Frosted Flakes.

Have you been on a date in the park?

I guess so, sure.

Ever dated someone you were best friends with first?

Not best friends. But we were friends.

Are there any diseases/health problems that run in your family?

Yup.

Do you have asthma?

I do.

Are tongue piercings slutty?

Of course not.

Is there anybody you think is hot over the age of 40?

Jensen Ackles. Misha Collins.

Last person to take off your pants, besides you?

Probably Jacob.

Do you remember those cool highlighters that smelled like popcorn?

I do not.

Might you enjoy hanging out in the woods for day or two?

Eh. Maybe if we’re camping.

Have you ever written something on a bathroom stall?

I have not.

Least favorite alcoholic drink?

Jager.

Have you ever kissed someone named Paul or Luke?

I have not.

How did you meet the last male you texted?

Middle school. He used to sit on my lap and eat my lunches.

Have you ever had an embarrassing email address?

I guess so.

Do you put shampoo in your left or right hand?

Left.

Do you have a bull ring through your nose?

I do not.

Do you and your dad get along?

We do. Might not be as close as I am to my mom, but we get along well. I’m a lot like him in a lot of ways.

Can you see your purse right now?

I don’t carry a purse.

Are you wearing any perfume? What kind?

I am not.

Are there products in your hair?

Nope. Unless you count the remnants of the Splat hair dye.

When you get colds, do you use nasal spray to help get your nose unstuffy?

Not usually.

Do you actually like sneezing?

I hate it.

Have you taken a shower yet today?

No. I did Sunday. And I will probably take another in the morning before work.

Do you have one best friend who is always there for you?

I guess.

Do you wear skirts a lot?

I do not.

Do you wear sweatpants a lot?

Not really. I wear leggings pretty often.

How many pairs of jeans do you think you have?

Maybe four.

Do you like hoodies?

Looove them.

Big ones or the form fitting kind?

Big ones. The bigger and comfier, the better.

Do you wear polo shirts a lot?

I do not. Ever.

Did you ever actually have a rubber duck?

I think so.

Are you one of those people who claim to live with no regrets?

No. I definitely have regrets.

Do you love your computer?

I like it. It works for my purposes.

Do you drink coffee?

Every now and then.

Do you basically like all of your clothes?

I mean. For the most part, sure.

Do you shop mostly with your parents, your friends, or by yourself?

By myself or with my mom.

#survey #surveys #personal #question #questions #random

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secretradiobrooklyn · 3 years

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Two Lions In Love Edition | 6.19 & 6.26.21

Secret Radio | 6.19 & 6.26.21 | Hear it here.

6/19: Juneteenth “Two Lions in Love Edition”

“Tropical use only” — drug salesperson

1. Daddy Don’t - “Bottom Side of Texas”

One of our favorite spots to play in the whole country is the Pilot Light in Knoxville — it’s not just the club, but the neighborhood and really the whole drive into town, digging into the Tennessee mountains. There’s a little St. Louis in its bricks and pathways too. One evening brought us a night with Daddy Don’t, which was a gal on guitar singing songs about the gal on drums, plus a guy onstage strictly to blow bubbles. They seemed so shy and so completely cool. Their set was hilarious and touching and maybe a little stumbly and thoroughly charismatic. I felt an overlap with Birdcloud and Schwervon and ‘90s Olympia but also definitely their own thing. I hope they’re doing cool stuff these days too.

2. Ennio Morricone - “Guerra e Pace Pollo e Brace” - “Grazie Zie” soundtrack

The great music find from the wedding of Josh and Ashleigh. We spent some time recently remembering what a fantastic time that was…

3. Panjabi MC - “Mundian to Bach Ke”

…because we all met up in Chicago this month to celebrate the marriage of Ren and Kiera! It was in the Morton Arboretum, bringing together both American and Indian families in one grand event. The music throughout the evening was lovely, from the ceremony (Josh on solo guitar) through the early events and the meal. Once the dance floor was opened, however, a whole new flavor dropped: the DJ rocked between Nelly and Indian dancefloor music, then over to Michael Jackson, then into Panjabi MC and on and on. We danced our faces off!

- “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” karaoke version with special guest star!

4. Sparks - “The Number One Song in Heaven”

“Gabriel plays it and God how he plays it!” I know everybody’s gonna be talking about Sparks soon because of the doc that just dropped, and it’ll be both from people who know everything about Sparks and from people who are brand-new zealots. Bring it on — I’m so looking forward to learning more about these guys… especially because, in just over a month, on August 6, there’s going to be a whole other film dropping that we’ve been looking forward to for years. It’s called “Annette,” and it’s directed by Carax, who did “Holy Motors” and “Lovers on the Bridge” — it’s his first movie in English and his first musical. But check this: Sparks wrote all the music! The cast includes Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, Angèle AND Russell Mael … I mean, we couldn’t be any more excited for this film. It’s entirely possible that it won’t work at all, but it’s also entirely possible that it turns out to be the combined efforts of some of the most interesting artists working today.

5. T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - “Noude Ma Gnin Tche De Me”

We met up with Theo Welling recently just off Atlantic Avenue at a place with a questionable name and a brothel theme but a pretty epic back patio. Not only were there chandeliers and a disco ball hanging from the broad branches of the tree overhead, but the music was DEAD ON our tastes. When this song came on, it was like: they got us. There was some Francis Bebey a little later on, I mean it was the very stuff. And the thing is, this song totally rocked that patio. Because T.P. rules.

This is from Analog Africa’s crucial T.P. collection, “Echos Hypnotiques.”

6. Elsa - “Ecoutez”

The energy in French records from the ‘60s is crackling hard — this one

We picked up this record at Dave’s Records when we were in town for Ren and Keira’s wedding. It happened to be Record Store Day as well, so we went to Dave’s Records, an old favorite with a “CDs — Never Had Em, Never Will” sign in the window. “They powered through CDs,” says Paige. That sign is this relic of them living through the ‘90s and ‘00s, really.”

7. Velvet Underground - “White Light/White Heat”

Theo was wearing a Lou Reed Transformer shirt that night and we spent some time talking about this crazy band. I feel like this track is the ultimate experience of VU where they find the most ragged frayed edge of pop music to ride and they spend the whole song there, until the end when they jump on the song like leopards on an antelope and start attacking it. But the song resists, takes off running, and actually gets quite a long ways before it is finally taken down. The ending sounds like a brutal act of nature.

8. Sroeng Sari - “Kuen Kuen Lueng Lueng”

It took me a while to stop and actually listen to this song — the opening riff is kind of blinding. You stare into that riff and think that you’re gonna have to deal with a whole version of “Iron Man,” but on the other side of the riff lies a fascinating new riff and completely independent verse shape. (I have no idea if the lyrics relate to the concept of “Iron Man.”) In fact, it turns out the riff is practically only used like a sample within the structure of the song, and it’s mainly not Iron Man at all.

9. [REDACTED] Keep an eye out for the Extended Drunk Scarface Cut Edition.

[9. Paige Brubeck as Scarface & Tony S. in - “Favorite Gangster Friend” feat. Chumbawumba]

10. Midnight Oil - “The Power and the Passion”

Paige was a little too late for Midnight Oil, but she’s extremely receptive to an ideologically, ecologically driven band. “If I had heard that band when I was listening to ska music, I would have fuggin loved this band. I think I would have listened to this band a lot. The part of me that likes Reel Big Fish and the Pietasters… it’s very punk and then when the horns come in it’s like, Oh yeah I love this stuff.”

For me: I love the drum solo. It’s such an interesting full-length exploration of a few different ideas, and it helps point out the ways that the percussion operates in Midnight Oil songs. The overdubbed variations on the singer’s voice reminds me of techniques we used in Bound Stems. I really like that way of recording multiple emotions within a single line and just kind of smashing them together for a multi-faceted take on the lyric. I feel like “Jane Says” was the first recording where I noticed that approach. I also love the crescendo structure to the whole song. But to me, this feels like a song that was built to be played live but someone thought should be represented on the album. I think the transitions between the A, B and C parts are weird and unfinished, even though each of the parts is really good.

11. Phuong Dung - “Do Ai”

What a truly incredible voice… and the guitar accompaniment only slowly reveals its depth and litheness through the course of the song.

12. Group Inerane - “Ikabkaban”

This was a lucky discovery. It’s as much a state of mind as a recording of a song. The sound is very live and not ideal, which I do think ultimately makes it more interesting. There’s something about live recordings that can be embarrassing and compromised… or it can feel like lightning in a bottle. I think this one feels special. This sounds to me like desert blues. These are some of the notes on the track itself: “This album by the rebellious Tuareg musicians from Niger is certainly more hypnotic and less ecstatic than the first (which was recorded at a wedding celebration). It should be said that the guitarist Adi Mohamed, who played on the first album, was shot dead in a skirmish between the nomads and junta forces.”

Yow.

13. The Lemon Twigs - “As Long As We’re Together” (video version)

Now I should just say A) this is the video version of the song, and B) that’s the real version of the song as far as I’m concerned. This video is a perfect thing, at least to me. It was directed by Autumn de Wilde, who went on to direct the film “Emma,” which was one of the most enjoyable pieces of art we saw during the pandemic. (She initially got notice as a photographer before going into music videos.) The recording is masterful, with an intentionally pushed back main vocal and all kinds of panned effects both minimal and baroque. These guys were all teens when they wrote and recorded this song with Foxygen’s Jonathan Rado, which only makes it more (annoyingly?) brilliant. Also: this is our candidate for the song likeliest to get stuck in your head.

That video (I love the ending):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ4nqnVOfMo

- Nisar Bazmi - “Aesi Chal Main”

Pakistani music from a collection labeled “Folk and Pop Instrumentals 1966-1976.” It’s easy to imagine this as a folk song, but the instrumentation is so radically electric that it feels like new information being learned on the spot.

14. Katty Lane - “Ne Fais Pas La Tête”

Another live recording. Actually, that’s probably not true: it’s a recording from a TV of a TV appearance that Katty made, almost certainly lip-synching the vocals. But it sounds better than the album version to us. Katty Lane is going for a cross between Nancy Sinatra and Brigitte Bardot, and it’s really interesting how close she gets but how far away she remains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T4gWLi5RUw

15. Ezra Furman - “I Lost My Innocence”

Man, the rhythmic arrangement of the opening verse knocks me out. The production on this whole album really, but the minimalist rhythmic clarity that comes from splitting the beat among a variety of instruments is so amazing. As a drummer I just find the pattern-building in this song enviable.

We got to know these songs well during a tour we did with Ezra Furman. The whole band is full of heavy hitters, including Tim Sandusky, the guy who recorded the album and plays a variety of instruments there and live. He’s one of my favorite musical brains, period, and “Transangelic Exodus,” the album this comes from, is one of my favorite pieces of album production, period.

16. Voilaaa - “Pas bon”

These are apparently contemporary people! This album is from 2015. I think Josh pointed us to this one.

17. Francois and the Atlas Mountains - “La Verité”

This a band Paige came across a couple of years ago, at 2222 Jefferson I believe. This chorus is a true tonguetwister and thus irresistable to try to sing along with. The melody is really strong, and check out how the guitar enters the solo!

18. Ata Kak - “Daa Nyinaa”

We had an amazing night in the back patio zone we share with our building. Dexter had a few friends over including a dude named KG who turned out to be super interesting on a variety of subjects. As we were talking about music he brought up Ata Kak, whose “Obaa Sima” we’ve played on here and who we absolutely love. Paige disappeared inside and came back with our tape of this whole album. He fell out, like what are we doing with this thing? I started telling the whole back story of how the album was discovered in a street tent in Ghana by the guy from Awesome Tapes From Africa, and eventually after many adventures actually tracked down Ata Kak, who was surprised to be found and even more surprised to find that the tape Awesome Tapes had found was distorted and ran way faster than originally intended. But then KG started playing that original tempo track, which does indeed sound comPLETely different. I still haven’t been able to find a way to get ahold of that original track. “Daa Nyinaa” is another banger off the same tape. The man just has a really great sense of what makes a hook.

19. Sakuran Zensen - “Taxi Man” 錯乱前戦　タクシーマンのMVです

This was a video that flickered through my feed a couple of years ago, I think thanks to Steve Scariano (not Steve Pick as I claim aloud). I don’t think a single recommendation of Steve Scariano has ever been the wrong answer — the man has impeccable taste. This song has all of the rock and all of the roll PLUS a ladder. It’s a strong song and an even stronger video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNmubstNGFs

20. New York Dolls - “Looking for a Kiss”

As soon as we were in the nasty distortion of Sakuran Zensen it was probably inevitable that we would go looking for the New York Dolls. The live performance of this song is worth the price of admission… and the drummer looks like one of the brothers from The Lemon Twigs!

21. Mina - “La verità”

Sometimes Italian is the only language that will do. It does tend to have its own melodic shapes separate from French. I adore the way she goes for the high notes in the chorus only to get to the climax, which is her dropping down into her lowest register to bitterly and sarcastically deliver the title phrase: “La verità:” “the truth.” I know just enough Italian to catch that her final declaration is “Sono stato io,” or: “It was me.”

22. Pylon - “Cool”

Pylon has been back in the news recently thanks to a big ol’ rerelease at the 40 year mark, and it’s a great way to get more in touch with a band that lies at the source of so much music we love. They are every bit as cool as the song.

23. Dalida - “Aghani Aghani”

Dalida is Egyptian born, in an Italian household, who first gained fame singing in French — or in Italian to French audiences. She ended up singing in 10 languages in all. She is a blockbuster French star with no parallel, though she died young by her own hand. “Aghani Aghani” is an Arabic medley that became a gigantic hit all across the Arab world and has since entered the fabric of the language and culture.

24. Betti-Betti & T.P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou - “Mbala”

We have been falling deeper and deeper for Betti-Betti’s songs. This one has so many of my favorite things that she does — the fantastic melodies that cycle past each other, the expressive horn lines, and the mouth percussion that totally transforms the song for me. We just recently got a different album of hers that we’re also really excited about; that one features an entirely different band in a different style. This one is T.P. though, those consummate collaborators, and this song is an epic joining of forces.

- Mulatu Astatke + Black Jesus Experience - “Mulatu”

25. Nick Drake - “Pink Moon”

Oh that strawberry moon with its red halo.

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tilltheendwilliwrite · 7 years

Text

Soft Names, Soft Touches*

Chapter Fourteen (NSFW)

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Bucky X OC | Word Count : 9.5K+ *NSFW* 18+

Warnings: Swearing, fluff, a lot of smut. Russian that may or may not be correct.

Bucky didn’t stop until he was in his room, door shut with the locks engaged. She wasn’t getting out of there anytime soon. Reaching his bed he flipped her up, stripped the blankets from Franki’s body, and carefully laid her across it. He stared down into annoyed silver eyes. “You ran from me.

“I thought I was doing the right thing!”

“You thought wrong!” Shaking his head, Bucky pressed his hands to either side of her and just stayed still. A mountain of unresolved emotions, churning, burning inside him, were waiting to volcano outwards at any moment. He took a deep breath. “You told me you didn’t need to run. That I’d already caught you. But you left. You left me! God dammit, Francessca!”

“Bucky…” she murmured, hating how harsh his voice was, how cold his eyes had become.

“No! No, Franki. Don’t you get it? I can’t let you go! Everything I’ve ever done has been out of duty. Join the war for my country? Check. Choose to stay to watch Steve’s back? Check. Nearly die? Check and fucking double check! Go to Wakanda and get as good as I possibly can because… because… fuck! I can’t leave Steve here to deal with all this shit on his own. But you. You, Francessca, are the first thing I ever looked at and thought, she’s mine. Not for duty or out of some sense of responsibility. Not out of some Hydra fucking bullshit they put in us, but because you are fucking mine! And I can’t let you go! I haven’t wanted anything for myself since before I joined up except you, and I can’t let you leave me! I won’t! Because I love you so damn much that thinking of me without you is like… like…”

“Dying,” she whispered.

“Yeah. And I’ve done that, Franki, or nearly, a couple of times.” He had never felt anything like it before until now. “I don’t like it. It feels like there is a hole in me that just keeps bleeding.”

“Oh, Bucky,” she sighed, and watched his head fall so that the ends of his hair brushed against her.

He’d said he wouldn’t let her go, but she was reasonably sure that if she told him to let her up, and if she found the will to walk out his door he would let her. But with all Helen had said she would be insane to leave now. It wouldn’t change anything, likely only make them both miserable, and even if Hydra had tampered with them did that make them any less happy when they were together? It wasn’t why she loved him.

Closing her eyes, Franki swallowed around the thick lump in her throat before finding the courage to look again at his face.

“Bucky?” Reaching for him slowly, she lightly cupped his jaw. When he finally looked at her, all she could see was pain and despair, all hope gone, and she cried out softly. Sliding her hand to the back of his neck she pulled him down. “YA tvoya devushka. Ty moye solntse. YA ne mogu zhit' bez tebya.”

…I am your girl. You are my sun. I can’t live without you.

Shuddering with her words, Bucky pressed his forehead to hers. “Don’t say it if you don’t mean it, Franki.”

Tears spilled into her hair. She gasped out harshly, “I do mean it!”

“Then say it. Say it! Skazshi chto lyubish menya!” He gripped a handful of her hair like a lifeline, demanding she tell him the truth.

“I love you!” Franki shouted. Crying softly, she gently tugged his shaggy locks and whispered, “I love you, Bucky. No one but you.”

He pressed fevered kisses to her lips and jaw, groaning, “I need you, Francessca. I need to touch you, hold you, be inside you. I can’t wait any longer. Let me love you. Let me make you mine.”

“Da, snegopad. Make love to me, Bucky.”

He reared back and ripped the thin cotton gown she was wearing straight down the middle, making her gasp.

“I won’t stop, malyutka. Not until I’ve touched every part of you with my hands, my mouth, my tongue. Not until I’ve sunk inside you and tasted you again. I’m gonna sink inside your soul, baby. Brand myself there so that you are as caught as I am.” Her eyes had grown darker, heavy-lidded, and he sank his left hand behind her neck, lifting her up to take her mouth in an act of possession.

His lips caressed hers, and she moaned quietly with the contact. Heat licked at her, little tongues of it that stroked her cells into life and followed the path of his warm fingers where they trailed over her hip and up her stomach. His palm found and cupped her breast, moulded it gently to the shape of his hand, and set her shivering. A gasping breath passed from her to him when his thumb drew over her nipple, and she reached with shaking hands for the buckles on his vest. Soft, velvety lips covered hers, drawing, pulling, teasing, making her mind foggy and her fingers weak.

Pulling on the buckles that refused to give, she finally jerked her head back in frustration. “Sukin syn!” she swore and shoved against his chest.

“Problems, doll face?” he licked his lips, tasting her on them, pulling the bottom one between his teeth to keep from laughing.

Growling, she shoved at him again. “Stand the hell up, Barnes!” She squeaked out a yelp when she found herself upright with him. At times she forgot just how strong he was until he reminded her in such a fashion.

The tattered remnants of her hospital gown fluttered to the floor. She stood before him like Godiva, covered only in her hair. The chestnut locks still contained much of their tight curl from her Halloween costume, and bounced against her, sliding along her smooth flesh in a caress his hands ached to follow. “I told you I wasn’t going to stop touching you, malen'kaya ten'.”

“Touch after. You have too much stuff on!” she huffed, glaring up at his laughing eyes, jerking on the buckles a second time. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew she was naked, but she couldn’t seem to care. All she knew was she wanted all this gear off him.

Sliding his hands down her back, he let them drop to his sides. “Then take it off, baby.”

Her mind went a little white with the invitation. Take it off? Strip back the layers and peel all his clothing off him? Yes, please, whispered a little deviant voice inside her.

Instantly her hands slowed, steadied, softened. The dexterity she’d lost in her initial rush returned. Slowly, she tugged the strap on his shoulder free. Her fingers drifted to the ones beneath his arm, and she pulled first one, then two, then three loose. With the third one, she let her eyes drift back up to deepening blue. The sapphire pools where shadowed by his thick lashes. She gave the final buckle a firm jerk. It rocked him forwards a little, but otherwise, he was immovable.

Catching the vest, Franki drew it down his arm, letting it fall quietly to the floor. The belt he wore which housed extra clips, knives and grenades were already missing. A fleeting thought had her remembering seeing it hanging from the chair in the infirmary. She reached instead for the holstered weapon on his left hip. Her fingers closed around it, and his hand close around hers in a cool brush of metal.

“Careful, moya zvezdochka,” he murmured, a smirk flirting with his lips. “Wouldn’t want any accidents now, would we?”

A fire lit in her eyes, and the smirk broke free. “Snezhinka,” she scoffed, but a smile was playing with her mouth as well.

Placing her hand on his chest, she urged him backwards, one step, two, before pulling the gun slowly, and laying it carefully on the top of his dresser. Letting the hand on his chest wander over his shirt, she drew it over his abs, down to remove the second and third guns from his hip. Tracing her fingertips up his thigh, she pulled both daggers. Once finished, she brought both hands to rest on his legs, drew them firmly upwards, sweeping for more weapons, before sliding them around his waist, causing her breasts to press flush to his body.

He groaned a wanton sound when her breasts pressed against him. She was warm and the tart bite of her scent, the heady fragrance of the moisture gathering on her thighs, was filling his nose. She made to lift his shirt, and he helped, drawing it up over his head when Franki’s shorter reach failed her.

Slightly tanned skin appeared from beneath his shirt. She almost whimpered. He was just so damn sculpted, and Franki gave in to the long-sealed desires of her heart. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to his chest.

Bucky froze, shirt stuck on his head when her lips pressed to the skin between his pectorals. Every single cell inside him came alive with the gentle touch. He shuddered. It was like she’d placed a kiss right on his heart, sappy as it sounded.

Pulling the shirt the rest of the way off, he chucked it somewhere in his room, uncaring where it landed. Franki’s hands were in full wander, stroking in gentle patterns and motions, following paths she’d created once before, down to the waist of his pants. They settled there as she used them to help steady her when she pressed up on her toes and placed soft, open-mouthed kisses along his scars. “Franki.”

“Hush, snegopad,” she murmured, “Does it hurt? Do you hate it? Am I causing you discomfort?” Franki asked, kissing a new mark with each question.

“No to the first two and yes to the third,” he groaned, his cock hard against the zipper that was straining outwards.

“What?” She jerked back only to have her hands captured, and one brought to bear against the stretched material of his pants. Her mouth fell open in sudden understanding. A coy smile flitted over her lips. “Poor, snezhinka,” she teased softly. “That does appear uncomfortable.”

“You…” he grunted when she gave a testing squeeze. “Damn, baby.”

“You think, maybe, I would be shy, da? That I would blush and cover myself?” She smiled and pressed her palm a little firmer against him, stroking the full length, all the way to the tip near the band of his pants.

“Maybe.” Her accent had grown thick, and he could have listened to her talk for hours, but her palm was distracting, and Bucky hissed when she slipped her fingers between fabric and skin. “Francessca.”

“I love how you say that. Just my name. Francessca.” She watched his eyes as her fingers wrapped around the length of flesh straining the front of his pants. A fire burned in them, threatened to burn her, and she was ready to be reborn in flames.

His hands found her waist, held on as she tormented him with her bold, yet, somehow still innocent actions. Drawing his fingers up, they encountered a discrepancy in the smoothness of her flesh. He knew instantly it was her blood, dried to her from before. Reaching for the hand in his pants, he tugged it free and kissed her frowning lips. “Come with me.”

Confused, she followed him to the bathroom, waiting as he turned on the shower. “Bucky?”

“Both of us could use a shower,” he said.

“But… I…” She’d thought he was going to… had he changed his mind?

Seeing the look of confusion shift to rejection, he tugged her closer and turned her to face the mirror. Lifting her arm, he swept her hair out of the way to show her the smear of dark red, dried blood and the sickly brown of the antiseptic wash Cho had poured on her. “I want you, malyutka, but I have no plans on letting you out of my bed anytime in the near future. Best get cleaned up now, so you’re comfortable later, doll face.”

She turned her eyes away. “Oh.”

“Hey, hey, now. What happened to the woman that said she wasn’t going to blush and cover herself?” She’d lost a bit of her confidence somewhere, and he didn’t like it. Sultry silver lifted, and he sucked in air when her nails scratched gently over his ribs.

Sighing softly, Franki dropped her forehead to his chest. “Is not that,” she sighed. “I… avoid looking in the mirror when I have been… injured.”

“Why?” Ignoring the storm of urges in his body, Bucky grasped her chin and lifted her eyes back to this. “Why, Francessca?”

She never should have told him about that. He was going to use it against her now and did her best to ignore the clench of her belly. “The cell they kept me in, the glass on the front was like a mirror. I spent more time looking at myself bloody than I did clean.”

“Tell me the rest.” He could see it flicker like a shadow in her eyes. There was more, and he’d have no secrets between them. “Tell me the rest of it, moya zvezdochka.” Her eyes closed, pain showing on her face, and he leaned down to press a tender kiss to her quivering lips. “Ya veryu v tebya.”

… I believe in you.

She trembled beneath the onslaught of his love. He always had been unfailingly in his belief in her. “They never let me get fully clean. A douse with a hose to remove the worst of the blood, but I was rarely clean. Seeing blood on my skin is like… like…”

Her voice broke, and he cupped her face between his palms. “You are not back there, Franki. You’re right here, with me, in my arms.” Her hands closed around his wrists, and he knew she was using him as an anchor, pulling herself out of the memories that continued to haunt her. “That’s right, baby. Come back to me, Francessca.”

Only he could know so well what she struggled with. How the memories could pull her back until it was as if she lived them. Every breath full of the scent of blood and death and the chemical antiseptics they poured on everything. How the space she was in disappeared, and the cell she’d lived in appeared around her until something knocked her out of the past. Gasping softly, she inhaled hard the scent of smoke and snow. “Bucky.”

“Just breath, doll.” She did, slowly, carefully. When the trembling slowed to a stop, the hands around his wrists softened their grip, he released her face to take her hands, and bring them back to his waist. “Take them off, Francessca.”

Stroking her hands over the fabric, she managed to pop the button and slowly drag down the zipper, her knuckles brushing the length of him. They fell with her gentle tug after catching on his nicely rounded buttocks. The tight band of his boxers was next. She slipped her thumbs beneath the elastic, caressing the skin encased with a small sweep of her hand. Slowly, like unwrapping a present, Franki worked the confining fabric over his hips and tried to ignore the rabbit pounding of her racing heart.

She’d never done this before, but Natasha had been nothing if not thorough in her explanation about what to expect, what to do, what not to do, and what the vast majority of men liked and appreciated from their woman. Wanda had been a secondary fount of knowledge, but putting it into practice was always way more difficult than theory.

Bucky watched through half-lidded eyes as she slowly pulled his boxers down. He couldn’t tell if she was trying to be the sexiest thing he’d ever seen or if it was her startling innocence which made her move like that, but he was certainly enjoying the soft touches. She peeled his shorts down, exposing his cock an inch at a time until the heavy shaft finally sprang free to bob near her cheek.

She made no sound of surprise, though her heart jumped once, kicking into an even faster beat. He was large, ridged and veined, and she pulled the boxers down to his calves. Ignoring the beast of a cock which stood proudly between his thighs, she moved her hands to his boots and quickly released the laces. “Step out, Bucky.”

He’d never really understood the whole dominant-submissive thing that played out so prominently in today’s society. The whole phenomenon was a bit of a mystery to him. He would never raise a hand to a woman in the bedroom, couldn’t do it, and with all he’d been through he’d had enough submission to last him three lifetimes. But seeing his Francessca on her knees, her beautify hair cascading down her stunning body, was a whole new form of pleasure. He stepped quickly out of his clothes. But, when she reached for him, he caught her hands, drawing her back to her feet. “In the shower, baby.” He had other plans now that he knew about her issue.

She stepped beneath the warm spray, tilting her face up, lifting her hands to cup a small handful and bring the water to her lips. Her throat had gone dry with her confession, and, though it was warm, it soothed some of the ache.

Bucky shut the door behind him. He stood watching her for a moment. Watched the water soften the curl in her hair, causing it to lengthen until it hung past the curve of her ass. Watched trickling rivulets stream down her skin, over her breasts, between her thighs. The water darkened all her hair, and Snow White once again replaced Red in his mind.

The big stone enclosed shower with its many jets and rainfall head gave him wicked ideas for things to do with her at a later date but, for now, he reached into the shelf that held her bottles of soap, picking up the one labelled shampoo. It smelled mildly of vanilla, and he thought maybe honey as he stepped up behind her. Slowly, he worked the substance into her hair. It lathered pink. He gritted his teeth when patches of white scalp appeared underneath the dried blood but didn’t say anything. It was glaringly apparent that she’d torn out a few chunks of hair at some point tonight.

Unaware of his pique, Franki sighed softly into the sensation of strong fingers cleaning her hair. His hands followed the length, skimmed her back. Skated over her buttocks. It made her shiver, and a moan escaped her lips.

His irritation with her disappeared with the sexy little sound. “Rinse,” he murmured near her ear. She ducked beneath the spray, and he reached for the second bottle.

Again those hands, those heavenly fingers where dragging through her hair, pressing at her scalp, creating tingles of sensation that streaked her spine. It was bliss. She pressed her hand to the wall to stay upright when her knees weakened. He worked his hands down the length, smoothing and detangling as he went, making her wonder vaguely how he knew to do that right before he gathered the heavy mass, and twisted it into a tail he could lay over her shoulder.

Taking the cloth he snagged from the shelf beside the door, Bucky wet it, dumping a generous amount of her vanilla scented shower gel on it. It lathered swiftly between his hands, the heady fragrance filling the space as he swept it gently across her shoulders and down her back. He followed the curve of her spine, slicking the cloth over every inch of skin, around her waist and up her ribs. More bloody lather and sickly yellow antiseptic washed from her body, trickling down the drain in swirling clashes of colour.

When every speck of red, and ever splash of yellowish brown was finally gone, when her back and sides glowed a healthy pink from his attention, he dropped slowly to his knees. Taking the cloth to her legs, washing each sculpted calf, each long, slim hamstring, firm muscular quads. The curve and swell of both cheeks. He listened to the ragged breathing and soft moans that spilled from her lips.

She held herself up against the wall, legs shaking slightly, body swamped in sensation. When he rose up behind her once more, she groaned softly for his hands, landing gently on her hips, pulled her firmly back into his body. The weight of his cock snuggled up against her buttocks, his hands drifted over her hip bones, and the soapy cloth found all new territory. “Oh God, Bucky…”

“Breathe, malyutka,” he whispered tracing small circles over her abdomen. There was a single swipe of brown beneath her breast, and he wiped it quickly away, scrubbing just a little when the spot proved stubborn. “Close your eyes.” She did, and he tugged her fully underneath the spray where he could rinse out her hair, making sure to follow the directions on the bottle he’d read earlier that night. Her hair thrilled him, and he’d curiously wondered what she did to make it seem so soft and shiny. The bottles in his shower gave him a new appreciation for how much work women put into their appearance.

Once he was sure she was as clean as he could make her, he leaned down and pressed his lips to the skin beneath her ear, taking his hands back to her hips. One worked up, the other down until metal caressed mounded flesh and beaded nipple, and flesh skated through carefully groomed curls to pass gently between slick lips.

Franki’s hips gave an involuntary thrust when warm digits pressed to the bundle of nerves between her legs. Moaning, she chased his hands with her own, cupping the back with her palms, needing to touch him in some small way. “Snegopad, mne nrvitsya kogda ti trogaesh menya tam.”

… I like it when you touch me there.

“Where?” he murmured, nipping at her ear. “Here, malen’kaya ten’?” Bucky asked running his thumb over her nipple. “Or here?” His fingers delved deeper between her folds. A soft cry fell from her lips when he tugged at the swelling bud. “I think this is a very good place to touch my girl.”

“Da,” Franki sighed when he did it a second time. “Bucky, please!”

He spun her quickly around, pressing her back against the stones. His mouth was on hers just as fast, sucking on her lips, sliding his tongue between her teeth. He played with her as he caged her against the wall, body heavy, pressed fully to Franki’s. Her hands reached for him, but he was having none of it, quickly capturing them both, twinning their fingers together.

Breaking away to breathe, Bucky lay his forehead on her smooth brow and moaned at the feel of silken skin, soft and giving beneath his own. “You’re so sexy, baby. I just want to devour you.”

“I guess the wolf gets his Red in the end after all,” she said, nipping at his lips, causing their noses to brush together. She arched into him, rubbing gently, sending bolts of pleasure streaking through her with the drag on her nipples. “I feel so… so good…”

“You ain’t seen nothing yet, Francessca.” Drawing back he pressed a tender kiss to her swollen lips and freed his hands to place them softly on her hips. Looking into her darkened silver eyes, he whispered, “Don’t forget to breathe, malyutka.”

Her eyes widened when his mouth dropped to her throat, began to nip and suck its way down her chest. Hands of contradicting textures skated up her ribs until both cupped a breast, lifting and squeezing as thumbs and fingers tweaked and plucked her nipples. They were rolled and tugged, making her knees shake, and a soft cry burst from her when a metal hand lifted the right, and hot, moist air engulfed her flesh. A louder crying accompanied a gulp of breath as she threaded her fingers into his hair to grip it tightly, the other hand sank her nails into his shoulder when he bit her gently, pulling firmly on the hard bead until it popped free from his lips.

“Jeez! Bucky! Fuck!” She yelped when he switched sides, lavishing more attention on her breasts.

“Eventually, doll, eventually.” He’d get to the fucking soon enough, but for now, he was more interested in driving her a little crazy. He placed a kiss between her breasts, one that landed directly over her heart, mimicking her move from before. Bucky looked up into silver eyes gone glassy as he slowly worked his way down her heaving abdomen, over the soft muscles of her belly, to place a kiss on her belly button, and settle slowly to his knees. “You with me, doll?” he murmured, sliding his tongue across her flesh.

“Da, always,” Franki breathed out on a sigh when teeth closed on her thigh. “Bucky… please.”

“Shh, easy, baby,” he murmured, dragging his nose across her hip bone and placing a kiss where it protruded slightly. “We’ll get there.”

She wanted him to get there now. The place between her thighs ached so badly for his touch she rocked helplessly towards him. “Bozhe moi!” Franki could feel wetness slide down her thighs. It had nothing to do with the water that steamed the space around them.

Nipping gently just above the trimmed nest of curls, Bucky breathed deeply and groaned. She smelled just so fucking incredible. He knew it was the pheromones Cho had talked about, but he didn’t care. It was so amazing, so good, he wanted to eat her up. “Do you remember how I touched you with my hands, Francessca? How I had this one inside you?” he asked, squeezing gently with his metal hand on her thigh. She nodded, her bottom lip caught between her teeth, “This time, hands-free, baby.” Confusion flashed as he gently lifted her leg to his shoulder.

Understanding dawned in her silver eyes, and he couldn’t look away, watching her as he dipped his head and ran his tongue slowly up the weeping lips of her core. He nearly swore, would have too, if not for the fact that he had no desire to remove his tongue from the heavenly treat he’d been given.

Franki’s head fell back against the stones when he cupped her buttocks and jerked her hips to his face. It was the most sinfully erotic thing she’d ever seen. Her lover with his face between her thighs. The slow, methodical exploration set her moaning, groaning, and gripping his hair with both hands. She wasn’t at all sure what he was doing down there, but she only hoped he never stopped. It was like he was studying for a mission. Touching everything with delicate precision. Learning as much as possible before moving on. A particularly intense sweep of tongue over her bundle of nerves had her crying out and tugging him closer. “Right there! Oh, please! Again, snegopad!” His lips closed, he sucked on her, flicking the pearl with the tip of his tongue and made her cry out.

Her voice echoed, broke on sobs of pure pleasure. Erratic streams of Russian begging had him growling softly against her. Suckling gently on the swollen jewel, Bucky growled a second time when her hands wrenched at his hair. “Careful there, doll,” he rumbled, running his tongue slowly around her opening, pressing it deep. Her leg locked down across his back, and he smirked a wide grin for he’d known she could strangle him with those thighs.

She’d never felt such intense feelings before. Her body quaked with them, and every time he caught her clit with his tongue or teeth, the tightening coil in her abdomen wound further. He went back to sucking and pulling, licking at her with little flicks or full sweeps, and Franki arched into him, trying desperately to get closer and release the tension that was building in her body in the same fashion she had once before. “Bucky, Bucky, please!”

He looked up at her flushed face, heavy-lidded eyes, the small marks he’d left on her skin, the kiss darkened lips, and had never seen anything more beautiful in his entire life. Shifting to the side, he spread her legs farther apart with the breadth of his shoulders, while pulling against her curls with his flesh hand. The metal one clamped around the thigh that lay over his shoulder. “Tell me, Francessca. Say it. Skazshi chto lyubish menya.”

… say that you love me.

“I love you, Bucky.” His blue eyes fired. She took a deep breath for they were filled with his love for her, and, when he lowered his wet mouth back to her body, Franki closed her eyes, leaned her head against the wall and gave herself over to the waves of lust that filled her.

She was his now. He’d never let her go again and Bucky dove back in, claimed what he’d won, taking his reward in the form of her body. His fingers spread her lips apart. He closed his mouth over her swollen clit, pulling, sucking, flicking it rapidly. Feeling the quaking begin in the thigh his metal hand was clamped around, he drew back to blow a stream of air over her glistening core before lapping at the heavy flow of cream that spilled from her. “You going to come for me, baby?”

Gasping, Franki rocked her hips into his mouth, managing to groan out, “If you’d ever stop playing.”

“You want me to stop playin’, sweetheart?” he drawled, gently nipping her clit and making her jolt. “Then tell me what you want.”

The burn was growing into an inferno that shook her legs and clamped a heavy hand around her womb, but it wasn’t enough. He watched her intently, blue eyes focused and hot, his tongue flicking out to drag over her every few seconds, keeping her right on edge. “I want,” releasing the grip she had on his hair, she stroked her fingers over his scalp, carding through the wet locks gently. “I want you, James. Only you.”

His cock twitched hard with her words, but it was his heart that swelled and turned over. “Baby…” he breathed reverently. “You’ve got me.” Before she could say anything more, he pressed his tongue to her clit, working her up swiftly. Her breathy moans were sweet music that blended with the scent of frost and vanilla, and the heavy steam that surrounded them. It made him fucking nuts. He released the hold he had on her thigh to slide a metal finger deep inside with a gentle thrust.

It was all she needed. Franki screamed his name when everything inside her broke open and poured out. The feeling of being alive swamped her, and she gasped a sobbing breath, hands closing in his hair as he continued to lick and suck gently, thrust that smooth finger in and out, extend the orgasm that caused her legs to shake.

Slipping his finger into his mouth, Bucky growled at the taste of her release. “YA mechtayu o tvoyem tele,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her clit that made her shudder.

… I dream about your body.

“Stop dreaming, lyubov moya,” Franki whispered, caressing his stubble roughened cheek. “I’m right here.”

Her eyes were dark, passion glazed, filled with so much love it ached in his chest with his own rush of emotion. Turning his face into her thigh, he kissed it as he ran his hand down the side, slipping it from his shoulder. Climbing slowly to his feet, Bucky pressed soft kisses to her body as he stood, creating a trail of them that led back to her heart, her throat, and finally her lips. Her arms went around his neck. He stepped back, moving her away from the rough stone before picking her up. Strong legs wrapped his waist, and hot, wet folds slid over his cock when it nestled into the cradle of her thighs.

He could have snarled with how good she felt. How hot and right. He could have shifted her a few inches up, sank into the heaven that waited, but he wouldn’t. Not yet.

Reaching for the tap, he shut the water off, leaving them in foggy silence, shrouded in the scent of sex and vanilla, broken only by the sound of ragged breathing. Holding her tight to him, vibranium beneath her and flesh across her back, Bucky latched into silver eyes, holding her gaze as he pushed open the shower door, and took her back to his bed.

Franki’s mouth opened on a breathless groan for with every step the hot shaft between her thighs, the one pressed thickly to her core, rubbed her clit in a most delicious fashion that had her body firing back into life. “Bucky, ty nuzhen mnye.”

“I need you too, moya zvezdochka. So much. Let me do this for you,” he said placing a tender kiss to her lips as he drew back the sheets, settling on his bed with her. They were both wet, but he didn’t care. There would be more than enough heat between them to dry out his sheets. But he was going to love her, worship her, take her this first time like the treasure she was. “Ty mne doveryayesh'?”

“Da, I trust you, snegopad.” Her legs slipped from his hips. Her hand went to his jaw. Her fingers trailed down to his lush lower lip, and held there for she was caught by eyes of blue so deep, she felt like she could see his soul.

Hungry for her, Bucky rolled into her smaller frame, holding her against his body as he kissed her. Slow, deep, drugging kisses that warmed the blood sent surge after surge of lust through his body. Gently he trailed his metal fingers along her back and hip, down the outer edge of her thigh and back up.

Her skin hummed with every soft touch. Every sip of her lips made them tingle, and when, finally, after what felt like hours of exploration, he pressed her further into the mattress, Franki sank her nails into his back. Drawing them slowly downwards, she smiled as he moaned. She’d barely gotten a taste of all his body had to offer. When their legs tangled together, she used her very special skill set to flip him to his back and straddled his torso.

“Francessca,” he growled, closing his hands on her hips. “What are you up to, lyubimaya?”

She smiled and stroked her fingertips over his chest. “Ty takoj krasivyj. So very handsome. You have such beautiful muscle.” Damp curls fell from her shoulders to slide over his arms when she leaned down and pressed her lips to his chest. “Can you blame me for wanting to touch as well?” Franki said, sliding her tongue over thick, strong flesh to the bud of a perky brown nipple. She flicked it, making him grunt.

He slipped his hands to her ass, the flesh giving beneath his fingers when he squeezed. “Frank… Franki.” Breath hissed out between his teeth when she closed her lips around his nipple and sucked. Strong hands glided over his ribs, skipped to his shoulders, dragged down to his biceps and held him captive. Her knees closed on his waist. Scorching wet core pressed down on his abdominals. “Jesus, woman!”

Chuckling softly, Franki bit gently at his chest. “Big strong man, can’t handle a little teasing.”

“You do nothing but tease, moya zvezdochka.” She giggled, making him grin before her mouth was once again tasting his skin, her pink tongue flicking out every so often as she slowly worked her way down his body. Her hips lifted, and she shimmied backwards, nails dragging down his torso. Teeth nipped at his stomach. Bucky finally had to ask, “Damn, doll. How are you so…” she licked a trail over his hip, down towards his cock, and every thought just evaporated.

“Natasha is very good teacher, da?” Franki chuckled, tracing her fingers over the trail she’d left with her tongue.

Her hand wrapped around his cock, and Bucky’s hips jerked. “Fuck!” He’d thank the redhead later.

The girth of him gave her pause for but a moment when Franki wrapped her fist around the shaft, fingers failing to come together. Still, she drew her palm up the silky skin. It was much softer than she’d imagined, velvet over steel. The wider flared head beaded liquid which she caught up with her opposite thumb. Bucky watched her, deep blue eyes behind thick lashes, as she brought her thumb to her mouth, placing it between her lips.

Bucky felt something in his brain just snap when her thumb, glistening with his essence, passed between her lips. She sat on his thighs, hair damp and curling, falling over her magnificent bare body, completely comfortable in her nudity. But it was the sound which came from her that had him losing it. No different than a kitten who’d had its ear rubbed, his woman purred at the taste, and he was just so done.

She fucking purred.

Rearing up, Bucky yanked her to his chest, metal hand clamping on a fist full of hair to drag her head back and claim her mouth. His lips sealed to hers, demanded entrance. His tongue was dancing through her mouth in seconds. Twisting, twining, fighting a battle he’d already won. He flipped their positions and thrust his knee between her thighs.

She found herself back on her back and gasped. His mouth was hot, seemed to be everywhere at once. Her lips, her chin, her throat. Dragging down her chest to pull at her nipples, skating across her collarbones with an edge of teeth. Closing on the sensitive skin beneath her ear, or sucking hard on the pulse beating in her neck. “Bucky!” she cried out, her knee sliding over his hip. His flesh hand pressed up between her legs, and she whimpered in surprised pleasure when his fingers thrust up inside, sending her flying. “James!” she shrieked.

He pumped into her, the wetness coating his hand, filling the air with her delectable fragrance. Bucky hummed against her skin, shifted his knee to join the other. He grunted when she clamped both thighs around his waist. “Damn, doll…” he muttered.

She was wet, slick with it. Her walls were fluttering quickly around his fingers when he drew them from her. Coating himself with the moisture, Bucky took his cock in hand and rubbed the head over her clit with gentle thrusts. His forehead rested on hers, noses brushing, lips touching, breath mingling.

He felt the pinch of her nails when they closed in his back. “Going to make you mine, but I got to know if you’re on something, baby. Or do I need to get out of this position and go grab some protection.” He had condoms in the drawer of his nightstand, but they weren’t exactly within arm’s reach.

He rubbed over her again, and Franki moaned out, “Good to go, Sarge.” Helen had been a most… efficient doctor when she’d run the first batch of tests a month ago.

A grin broke out on his lips when he looked down into her eyes. “Fuck, I love you, baby!” Bucky sank forwards, his tip pressing between scorching hot folds to stretch her walls. He went slow, knowing he was big and wanting her first time to be good, special. The last thing he wanted to do was surpass her threshold, cause her to tip into numbness.

Franki groaned, arching into him slightly, rocking her hips impatiently at his slow pace. “You won’t hurt me.”

“No, I won’t because I will go slowly, Francessca. You mean everything to me, malen’kaya ten’. I refuse to rush this.” Her hips lifted, and he clamped his hand to her waist as he slid deeper. Panting softly, he kissed her lips, nipping at the bottom one before working it with his teeth. “You feel me, baby? Feel this.” He rocked gently and fell further. Her thighs tightened, and he sank farther into the intense pressure of her squeezing walls. “You feel so good, doll face. So good.”

His voice was husky and deep, laboured. Franki whimpered, voice lost to the pleasure screaming through her body. He was so hot, his body like a furnace, she felt seared both inside and out. Unable to take the suspense, Franki locked her arms around his back, heels over his flexing ass, and pulled. He landed with substantial weight, knocking the breath from her lungs, causing her to release a keening moan when his cock bottomed out.

“Jeez, Franki!” he huffed, but god he was balls deep inside this perfect woman, and the barrier he’d thought he might have to break wasn’t an issue. After all the fights she’d been in before the serum, it shouldn’t surprise him, but he’d wonder with her healing factor and that area, too.

“Oh my…” she whispered.

“Yeah,” he moaned. Heat and wet, massaging walls, and the scent of frost and vanilla made him a little light headed. He groaned when she shifted beneath him and reached for her hip. “Ease up, doll.” Her grip on him was intense.

“Oh!” She blushed, relaxing her legs.

Bucky arched a brow and chuckled, “That’s what finally makes you blush?”

She dug her nails in a little harder. “Shut it, Barnes. Don’t you have something more important to focus on, snezhinka?”

“It’s a good thing your pretty,” he growled against her throat. Sliding his metal hand beneath her shoulder, and squeezing the flesh one against her thigh, he slowly began to move.

Tiny gasps spilled from her lips, little-broken sounds, the only noise she seemed able to make as the length of him pulled slowly out, and his muscles flexed beneath her fingers. Then he was pressing back in, and she knew nothing but overwhelming pleasure. “Sukin syn!”

The explicit exploded from her lips, and he seconded it. Hot. Tight. Wet. His focus narrowed down to the woman beneath him and the body he worshiped. She moaned, and he smiled against her throat. Lust streaked him, filled him up, and he gave himself up to her and her body.

He thrust hard enough to rock her into the mattress, and Franki scrabbled against him. All the sensations were so much, so strong, so overwhelming. They were beyond her comprehension. She clutched at him for he was the only stable point left in her suddenly unstable world. “Snegopad… I can’t…”

“Yes, you can.” He kissed her cheek, continuing to thrust as he lifted up to look down on her. Pressing his lips to the corner of her mouth, he kept to the same pace, retreating until just the tip remained before sliding back through her wet folds. Nibbling on her lips, he murmured, “Yes you can, Franki. I’m right here with you. Feel me, baby. Feel how much I love you.”

Crying out, Franki gave herself over to the heat, to the pleasure, and let go of her fear. The coil inside her was strung tighter than Clint's bowstring, and she revelled in the stroking glide that fired all her nerve endings. “Bucky.”

“Say it, malen’kaya ten’. Let me hear it from your lips as I love you.” Gripping her thigh, he tilted her hip and sank deeper.

She cried out, hands dragging down his back for he’d caught the place inside her that he’d shown her once before. It slammed a bolt of pleasure through her body so strong she was momentarily speechless. “Bucky… I…” He did it again, and she writhed beneath him, struggled, unsure whether she was trying to get closer or get away.

Heaving up onto his metal hand, Bucky took her lips in a bruising kiss, quickened his pace, and jerked her leg over his elbow. He couldn’t hold back any longer. He needed more and took it, increasing the force he was using. Flesh slapped against flesh. Sex scented the air with the sweet undertones of vanilla and ice. Until she’d brought it up, he’d never noticed the scent of snow that hung on him, a strange thing, but with the revelation of the pheromones, he knew it was Hydra’s doing. A side effect of the Winter Soldier project that the group had then turned to their advantage, but it meant little to him in the vast scope of things. She liked it, always said she loved the snow.

“Say it, Francessca,” he coaxed.

Her body burned, her heart ached, and tears threatened when she looked up into sapphire pools that held all the love she could ever hope for. Dragging her hands up his ribs, she moaned quietly, the length of him stroking in and out with speed and force. He was filling her so full, giving her so much, loving her with everything he had. She brought her hands to rest against his face. Drawing him down, she gasped softly with a particularly strong thrust of his hips, eyes closing for a moment before she could catch her breath. She placed a soft kiss to his lips, another to the corner of his mouth, and a third to the dimple in his chin.

“Bucky,” Franki whispered, a quiet cry escaping her, “YA lyublyu tebya. Ty zastavlyayesh' menya chuvstvovat' ... vse!”

… I love you. You make me feel… everything!

“Franki,” he breathed out reverently, “YA lyublyu tebya. With all my heart, moya zvezdochka.”

“Then show me, snegopad,” she murmured against his cheek. “Show me your heart.”

“Francessca,” he moaned. Her hands skimmed over his shoulders and down his back, and he let her leg fall from his arm so he could thrust his hands beneath her buttocks. “Hold on tight, baby.” He felt her tense. Bucky sat up, sat back, and brought her down over his lap. Face to face with her flushed features and hazy, heavy-lidded eyes, lush red lips and messy curls, Bucky couldn’t help but whisper, “God you’re beautiful…”

He rocked into her before she could reply, rocked her hips with his hands, and Franki cried out. He was so deep and hard and hot. She was burning up. Her body on fire and his was the spark, a match to her gasoline. “Please, Bucky.”

Lifting her higher, dragging her clenching walls over his shaft, Bucky growled when he lowered her swiftly to his thighs. The pressure was building in his core, the need to come growing stronger with the surging burn of his blood. It only became more so with her quiet plea. “Are you ready, Franki? Do you want to come, malyutka? Will you bathe me with it?”

“Yes, fuck! Yes!” She loved how he talked to her, deep, dark, a little dirty. “Fuck me! Make me come!” Hands tightened further, and he plowed into her, hearty thrusts that skated close to the edge where pleasure became pain and pain became nothing. It was exquisite in its potency. She threw her head back when he tugged her down to grind his pelvis up.

“Fuck! Franki!” Her hips circled. He snarled before latching on to her throat with his teeth. Right over her pulse as he rocked and thrust and plunged deep, Bucky sucked a new mark, a nice purple one into her skin as silken walls fluttered. “That’s it, baby. Give it to me,” he huffed, panting, sweat gleaming on his body. It matched that which coated hers as they slipped and slid together.

Franki pulled herself into his chest, rode hard, ground down with each thrust to the tightening grip of his hands. “Yes!” she squealed when the coil in her abdomen wound impossibly tight.

“There you go,” Bucky whispered. “There’s my girl. You going to fly for me, doll face?” She moaned, and he grinned. “Come for me, Franki. Let me feel it.”

“Oh, snegopad!” she shrieked, the tight coil snapped, walls clamped down hard on Bucky’s stroking shaft.

Another round of nearly unintelligible Russian fell from her lips as she came, hard, strangling his cock in a way he couldn’t remember ever feeling before. She moaned, hands threading through his hair to draw his head back, sink into his mouth.

Groaning, Bucky tumbled her back to the mattress, giving in to the demands of his body. The rhythm he’d established was shot to hell. He plunged deep with erratic movements, driving her back up as quickly as possible until with the last few thrusts, he paused. A rumble built in his chest that he released as a roar when the coil in his own groin finally snapped. Jets of hot seed erupted, and he pressed her forcibly into his bed until the pulsing slowed to a stop.

Franki whimpered with the action, her body throbbing. Every part of her hummed with feeling, with energy, with life. She held him to her when he collapsed. “Wow…”

Chuckling softly, Bucky turned his face into her throat. “Yeah… wow.” He’d get off her in a second. Once he found a way to put the bone back in his body. “That was intense. You okay, doll?” She hummed beneath him, nearly purred, and he groaned. “Don’t, ‘less you want to try for round two.”

A smile twitched her lips as she stroked her hands down his bare back. “You are too old to do such things. Your heart would not take it, da?”

Rolling over, he took her with him, settling her into the crook of his shoulder. “You tease me after all that?”

The glide of his thick shaft out of her swollen lips made her shudder. “Da. You make it so easy.” In the early morning light filtering around the edge of the blinds on the windows, Franki watched him fight the grin and lose. Resting her hand on his heart, she sighed happily before lifting her eyes to his. “I love you, Bucky.”

Closing his hand over hers, Bucky kissed the crown of her head. “YA lyublyu tebya, Francessca,” he murmured back before reaching for the sheets at the foot of the bed when she yawned big and wide. “Go to sleep, malen’kaya ten’.”

“What? No round two? Such a disappointment. Where is this stamina I hear so much about?” she teased, curling closer, eyes already closing.

“Go to sleep, Franki.” He rolled his eyes, ignoring her teasing, listening to her breathing slow and deepen. Drawing her closer so she could sleep more on his chest than against it, Bucky sighed as he drew her thigh over his. “I love you so much it makes me stupid.”

“Love does not make you do the stupid things,” she whispered, kissing his chest and falling into oblivion.

Grinning like a maniac, Bucky was quick to follow her under. In the soft light of dawn, he’d finally found all he could have ever hoped for.

Hours later, Franki woke to heat beneath her, sun in her face, and someone’s incessant knocking. It was quiet knocking, but it was still knocking. Opening her eyes, she squinted at the shaft of sunlight which hit her in the eyes and looked down at Bucky sprawled out underneath her. He was face down, dead to the world, clutching his pillow.

It was adorable.

Grinning, she peeled herself slowly from his spine, slipping silently from the bed. Hanging off a lamp was his shirt from last night. She pulled it over her head. It smelled of him and gunpowder, had bullet holes in the sleeve, and fell to mid-thigh. It swamped her, but her hospital gown was in tatters. She didn’t have any other options if she was going to answer the door. Besides, she kind of liked it. It was like wearing a piece of him.

Pulling the bedroom door nearly closed, she skirted the couch and muttered, “Alright already. I’m coming.” Yanking on the door, she nearly jerked her arm from the socket when it didn’t even give. “Stupid locks.” A large hand fell against the door frame. Franki jolted in surprise. “Bucky?”

“Leaving, malyutka?” Snaking his metal hand around her waist, he tugged her back against him. “I’m afraid I’ll have to insist on you leaving my clothes behind.”

She eyeballed him over her shoulder and huffed, “I was just getting the door!”

“Why?” he grumbled, still fuzzy with sleep. He’d been having the best sleep of his life until she’d left his bed. The knocking came again, snapping his attention to the door. “Who the fuck is that?”

“If you would be so kind as to unlock the door, snezhinka, I will find out!” Franki growled.

Grumbling about it, Bucky slapped his hand to the plate beside the door before yanking on the handle. “What?!”

Natasha smirked as she held out the bundle of clothes and looked from Franki’s wild cascade of curls to what was clearly a very naked Barnes, his manly bits hidden only by the woman in front of him who was drowning in his shirt. “I just thought Franki might want a change of clothes, seeing as how she left with only that paper gown on.”

“Thank you, sestra.” Franki smiled, taking the bundle before slapping a hand back against Bucky’s arm. “And you did not want to open the door.”

“Goodbye, Natasha,” Bucky growled, shutting the door in her face, and reengaging the locks. Wrenching the bundle of clothes from Franki’s fingers, he threw them at the couch. “I want my shirt back,” he rumbled against Franki’s ear.

“But… I… you, huh?” She was very confused. He had been very rude to Nat. Then she felt it. The heavy shaft that was pressed up against her buttocks, and squeaked a quiet sound of surprise.

He spun her around, shoving her back into the door, grabbed her by the thighs and levered her up the wall. Holding her there balanced on his thigh, Bucky made quick work of stripping his shirt from her body. “Who said you could leave my bed, Franki?”

His hands were everywhere, stroking, squeezing, plucking, rolling her nipples. Franki blossomed into arousal so swiftly, she gave a needy groan. “Bucky, please!”

He took possession of that sweet, pleading mouth and slid easily, lazily inside her wet sheath only to moan, “God, baby. You’re soaked, and I’ve barely touched you.”

Her head banging back against the door went unfelt as his hips snapped up, sending a bolt of pleasure straight through her. “Fuck! James!”

“I am baby, I am. Going to fuck you so good, Francessca.” She whimpered, and he pressed his mouth to her throat, hips slapping deliciously into hers. Tight walls were clamping down, wringing and choking his cock. He knew with ridiculous certainty that he wouldn’t last long.

Closing her hands at the back of his neck, Franki wrapped her legs around his waist, crying out when he increased the speed of his hips. “Oh god, Bucky. Right there!”

He tilted her hips a bit further and watched her mouth fall open, her pupils blown wide. He growled excitedly when the keening wail left her lips. Her thighs clamped on his waist, and he was forced to use short, sharp thrusts, ones that bumped his head repeatedly to the back of her sheath. It was fucking amazing, and he closed his teeth into the junction of her shoulder and throat.

Franki saw stars, her body lit up, and she screamed her climax to the ceiling.

He grunted with the power of her orgasm, swearing loudly, “Damn, baby. Fuck! You’re killing me.” Her body clamped down on him, forcing his release from him in quick, hard burst of hot seed.

Outside the door, Natasha grinned wide, snickering at the blush that filled Steve’s face. “We may want to switch floors.” Her sister and Barnes were quite vocal.

Wandering by, Sam grumbled, “Isn’t going to help. My place is above his. They had a very good time making up.”

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#soft names #winter #winter soldier fic #winter soldier #marvel #avengers #avengers au #avengers fanfiction #bucky barnes #bucky barnes fanfiction #fanfiction

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