Kissing the old year out, kissing the new year in. Let’s watch the old year die with a fond goodbye! Below are my Top 5 Favorite stories:
"Let’s Start the New Year Right” (NR, 1k) by Scout924
“People don’t go to parties to talk, Stevie,” Bucky says, leaning forward, his hands on his knees and a gleam of mischief in his eyes. “They go to neck in the closet in the back bedroom.”
A good ol' fashioned tale of friends teaching friends how to kiss a girl.
+ Pre War. Bucky and Steve dance at home and have a first kiss
-☆-
“Truths Written on Our Skin” (T, 1k) by giselleslash
Steve and Bucky spend a quiet New Year's Eve together in bed making resolutions to one another.
+ Post WS. New Years Resolutions and a whole lot of love.
-☆-
“New Year, New You” (T, 2k) by vulcansmirk
A lot can change in a year (or eighty), but some things never do.
+ Pre War and Post WS. Bucky is so in love with Steve. A first kiss pre-war and another kiss after he remembers.
-☆-
“Slainte mhaith” (M, 1k) by Speranza
Musesfool asked for Dec 31st: "Any New Year's Eve traditions for Steve and Bucky? Then? Now?" This ficlet is for her! Unbetaed and speed-written but from the heart. Happy 2019!
+ Pre-War to Post WS. Bucky spends all his New Year Eves with Steve. After Project Insight, that doesn’t change.
-☆-
“Final Countdown” (G, 4k) by orphan_account
Bucky's quiet break didn't include chatty neighbours in the warnings- but maybe that's because there's nothing to be warned about.
+ Modern AU. Bucky is taking it easy and spends New Year’s on a lake by himself (with a surprise guest). Atmospheric and calming after this hectic year.
-☆-
+ And don’t forget the delightful Modern AU from the Holiday Sampler list!
Don’t underestimate the importance of body language! Below are my Top 5 Favorite stories:
“Idioglossia” (M, 20k) by hotelmichelle
“James and Steve. If I have to tell you one more time to stop talking, you will be separated. Do you understand?”
Bucky stares up at Mrs. Wheatley with the face that gets him out of trouble when his ma is in a good mood. Steve becomes suddenly fascinated with his correction work. It would have been convincing enough, if their papers weren’t blank.
Or: Steve and Bucky make up a secret language
+ Pre WW2 to Post WS. Steve and Bucky are going find ways to communicate with each other whether you like it or not
-☆-
“But you were always gold to me” (NR, 13k) by Scout924
In which Steve finds Bucky (or does Bucky find Steve?) after Bucky pulls him from the river, and Steve will do whatever it takes to find his old friend in the Winter Soldier. Bucky finds a less-painful way to communicate.
+ Post WS. Steve’s home is wherever Bucky is, and Bucky will stay.
-☆-
“despite the threatening sky and shuddering earth (they remained)” (E, 71k) by praximeter (Zimario)
“They really didn’t want the mask to come off.” Hill thumbed through the scans, and pulled out a film that she then handed over to Sam, face mostly expressionless but for the flat line of her pursed lips.
Sam accepted the film and held it up to the light, angling so both he and Steve could see it, squinting at the outline of the Winter Soldier’s skull, and the blips of unnatural white that showed up, God, in his brain, not to mention about half his teeth, plus the mask, with its thin protrusions—
“Those are pins,” Steve realized. He looked over at Hill. “The mask—it’s nailed to his face.”
Hill’s face was as unmoved as ever. “Like I said. They really didn’t want it coming off.”
+ Alt WS. Identity porn and body trauma. This story hurts so good, but the ending is sweet.
-☆-
“Give Me A Sign” (G, 1k) by orphan_account
Bucky loves knowing more than one language. It certainly helps him pine over strangers.
+ Modern AU. Bucky has the biggest crush on the guy at the coffeeshop, and he loves to sign about it
-☆-
“Signs and Signals” (T, 1k) by EachPeachPearPlum
For the prompt: "X was talking to a friend in sign language in public transportation, using both hands so not holding anywhere, bus/train suddenly stops and X falls onto Y, who catches him. X immediately turns his face to his friend to quickly sign "He's so damn hot", without knowing Y is fluent in ASL, then apologetically types "I'm so sorry" in his phone, holds it to Y's face. Y signs "It's okay", X is horrified and he blushes like hell"
(In which Clint hates the subway, his job, and days when he loses his hearing aids, but is greatly cheered up when his dumbass best friend falls into the lap of a handsome stranger.)
+ Modern AU. An adorable meet-cute on the train with fantastic friends
-☆-
-☆- Bonus Freebie! -☆-
“Every Tree That is Pleasant” (T, 13K) by spitandvinegar
“As near as we can figure,” Tony said, “we had two incredibly ridiculous things happen at once. The first was Cap and murderbot activated a device that was sort of the juiced-up remote version of the thing that they used to scramble Barnes' brains back in the day. The second is that Mad Madame Mim here panicked and tried to get the universe to move them out of the room, and instead accidentally sent them to outer space.”
“To another dimension,” said Wanda, as if that was the point that made all the difference.
+ Post WS. Steve and Bucky spend 20 feral years alone together and make their own language.
