Warnings: non/dubcon, stalking, and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.
My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.
Characters: Bucky Barnes
This AU is called Watcher Anonymous and will include different series for different characters. This is our introduction to Bucky and Leaf.
Summary: a neighbourly connection might be more than chance.
As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤️
Bucky cracks his neck as he approaches the large windows. He rubs his eyes as he snarls at the sunlight peering back at him. Steve always leaves the curtains open. Always gone before Bucky drags himself out of bed.
He tugs them shut but stays close. It's not noon yet. She'll be out shortly.
He's not much for television. He tried a few TV series, some movies recommended on that chat, but he just can't keep his mind from running. It's why he wakes up late. Most nights, he doesn't even sleep. This is what keeps him enthralled. There's not much plot, but the main character is fascinating.
He swigs from his mug as the city street chugs from down the alleyway between their apartments. Her balcony is slightly lower. The perfect vantage.
Pathetic. That's what he'd call himself if he wasn't him. All those guys on that discord Steve found are that very flavour. But he's not them. They're all weirdo virgins. He's had plenty of women. More than enough. She's just different. Like him.
As if beckoned by his awakening, she appears. Her railing is curtained with ivy, enough that she doesn't think of modesty. He doesn't mind. She comes out wearing a loose sweater that reads SWEET in large caps and a pair of her frilly panties. He likes those ones, they ride up when she bends over to pick up the watering can.
She goes about her usual routine. She checks the leaves, waters the soil, untangles the overgrown stems, and treats the plants with rot or infestations. The cluster of plants takes up most of the space. She's like a little chipmunk among them.
She finishes and takes the can inside. The sliding door gives a generous view of her place. Inside, she lingers at the window ledge and checks the row of cactuses. He admires her devotion to those plants. She'll haven't the big square planters soon. A few of the tomatoes growing up the posts look close to ripe.
He rubs the cleft of his chin and his stubble makes a bristly noise. He backs away at the unnerving idea. It's too much. Too soon.
Fuck that. He's not that weirdo Jensen. He's been tailing his married boss for three years. Now that's fucking desperate. Besides, they all made a pact, as lame as it was. They're going to make their moves. Either do something or get over it.
Right. Finish the coffee and get your ass together, Barnes. He rinses the mug then goes to make himself human again. Show, brush the teeth, untangle your hair, tie it back, no one will know the different, clothes. Alright. It won't be so bad to get out and it'll get Steve off his back about Vitamin D. Funny, the sunlight only makes him feel worse.
He heads off with a cap pulled down low and his hands in his pockets. There's a shop down the way, they have tables outside full of seeds and little pots. And a coffee shop right next door. He could use a second cup. Maybe a third.
He stops by the display of plants on the corner. There's a big red sign marked 'End of Season Clearance.' Better late than never.
The old woman who runs the shop offers him a shallow box to put his purchases in. Some pansies and violets. He doesn't know. The colours are nice, he guesses. She tells him to get a nice long bed for them and he should be able to have a nice bunch before the frost.
He gets his coffee, agitated as he balances his starters in one arm, then heads home. He gets back to the apartment and leaves the box on the table. He doesn't touch them as he paces around. He goes to the window. She reading in her chair, reclined, one leg bent, sweater rumpling to expose a bit of tummy. He narrows his eyes. He reaches for the binoculars nearby. Oh yeah. He shouldn't be so into it but he can see a little bit of hair sticking out the edge of her panties. It makes him chafe in his jeans.
He backs up as his stomach growls. Fine. He eats grilled cheese and canned tomato soup. He's still groggy. He goes to the window again. He stays there until she's gone. The censor will let him know if she comes back out.
Steve gets home. He's in a rush. His bag clatters off the bench as soon as he lets go of it. He huffs and picks it up, scurrying around. Bucky doesn't ask. He's on his way to that volunteer gig. They both know why he's in such a hurry.
"Have fun," Bucky calls out from the sofa.
"Oh, flowers?" Steve pauses as his soles scuff.
"What's it to ya, punk?"
"Nothing. You know I got allergies, right?" He sneezes as if to make the point.
"Sure I do. They're going on the balcony... tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Steve asks. "Why not-- achooo!"
"Cool off," Bucky warns. "I'll cover them up."
"Ugh, I don't got time," Steve mutters. "See ya. Oh, and you probably don't want the cat chewing on those n-n-neith-- achoo!"
"She's off terrorising the mice," Bucky snorts. "Get out of here, Rogers."
The night rolls by slowly. Hours spent with his eyes open. On the couch until his roommate gets back. Then his bed. Back to the living room. Steve gets up to get ready for work at the museum. Bucky puts Alpine on his chest and scratches her chin. Her box needs changing.
The sunlight softens between the curtains as he's left alone. He lets the cat out with him as he angles the box of flowers through the door. He got the big trays too and soil. He'll replant it like she did hers. Or try to. Steve keeps saying the place needs a bit of home to it. Goddamn it, Steve, shut up.
He puts the flowers on the iron table and sighs. He doesn't know where to start. The squeak of a hinge makes him tense. It's hers. He knows it without looking. She yawns and he trembles, fighting not to look down at her. He can hear her sipping from her porcelain mug. Is it the one with the lillies or the roses?
"Are those Blueberry Swirl Pansies? Those are so pretty."
He doesn't move at first. She's talking to him. He knows it. His chest feels like it's full. He pushes away from the rail and checks the little tag then faces her. He gives a small wave.
"That's what it says, yeah."
He leans against the railing and looks up at him, "I love flowers, if you can't tell." She giggles and it's music in his ears. The kind that sticks in his brain and he'll keep hearing over and over.
"No, I can't," he chuckles. "Wouldn't mind a few pointers. Kinda new at this."
"Well, I'd start by keeping the cat out of them," she points and he turns to find Alpine digging in a pot.
How would you go about making an AU where An also fell in love with Usagi?
Series: Sailor Moon
AU Criteria: During the Makai Tree arc, Usagi meets and befriends Natsumi and Seijuro Ginga, not knowing they were out of this world. To be fair, they weren't aware she was either.
AU title (optional): Taking Root
On a mission to procure love to save the Makai tree and their race, Ail and An take the guises of Natsumi and Seijuro Ginga, two foreign students that recently moved to the area. Surprising how little of a lie that is.
Instead of acting hastily, they scout out how love can be acquired, and notice that there is a lot of love found surrounding one Usagi Tsukino.
Ail suggests using the Cardians to take the love energy, but An thinks it might be best to see what is generating it, and see if they can develop that for the tree instead.
Usagi helps Natsumi after the latter is knocked over by some kids, and they become friendly with each other. Ail watches this developing friendship, and… more? between them, and wonders about this feeling in his chest, like a gnawing and gnashing monster trying to break free.
Eventually, Ail learns that he is jealous that his sister is having fun without him corrupting the attraction and desire he felt for Usagi, the Makai tree is flourishing with the love that it is getting after Usagi and their friends come to visit An… and An admits that she maybe, possibly, could perhaps have the slightest, tiniest little crush on Usagi Tsukino
Ail and An have a confrontation, and the tree helps them understand the nature of love, and how giving to another should not deplete it, but increase it. They are its children, and should not let the love energy they have be corrupted by things like jealousy and selfishness.
The Cardians are sent out by a jealous and petty Ail, who is getting really close and friendly with Mamoru as Seijuro, they even have a friendly rivalry over a few games of basketball, tennis, underwater basket weaving, and many… many other things that Mamoru takes classes on.
Ezra and Cee working together on a birthday gift for Clara is the story I didn’t know I needed. Their relationship has grown so much since they came back home and I hope this isn’t the last we see of it. Do you have inspo for the flowers? I’m trying to picture them in my head but it’s hard
Hi anon! Hope you’re having a good day and that you’re doing well! It makes me so flippin happy to hear that you enjoyed that little check in with Ezra and Cee. It’s been a while and I’ve missed the PONR family very much.
I can promise you right now that this will certainly not be the last we see of them.
I mean, I have to at least tell the story of how Number Four joined the crew, right? 😉
Ezra and Cee’s relationship has definitely grown a ton, and I look forward to showing some of that as I fill in the timeline between the end of Point of No Return and where they are now.
To answer your question about the Novalilies, I did look for some reference pictures as I was writing and thinking about them. I imagine the archway leading to the Conservatory (as it exists in my head, for this universe, anyway) to look something like this:
But instead of yellow strands of flowers, they’re white, trumpet-shaped blossoms like these:
I hope this helps you get a clearer picture of them! Thank you so much for sending this, and thank you SO MUCH for reading my work. I appreciate it endlessly! 🌾🌸
It is not naive to be positive,
it is naive to be a defeatist.
When we believe that the worst possible outcome,
is the most likely outcome,
we ignore everything that life has ever tried to teach us:
that shadows exist,
but they are not permanent;
that we are capable of more than we think;
that people fundamentally care about one another;
that our worst enemies are often our own minds;
that when we think we are being buried,
we are more than likely taking root,
and preparing to bloom ...
If your life has handed you a season of uncertainty, please take heart in knowing that you can be completely mindful of your present reality, while still intent on seeing the good, pursuing the good, and becoming the good. This does not make you naive. This makes you an empowered being ...
April 9, 2020 ... Wishing you many Blessings & Peace ...
@hoppin-season‘s character Zackery because I love him and idk cait’s tragic boy characters always get my attention apparently. Encourage her to post more about her characters because they’re all great.
