lucetilogs | Grand Opening!

Who: Anyone and Everyone!
What: Official Grand Opening of Luceti's coffee shop
When: Monday, July 15th
Where: A Shot in the Dark Cafe
Summary: Stop by for some free coffee, today only! Wait, that's not right...
Rating: With this bunch? Who knows.

Okay, so technically they'd opened on July 1st, but Natasha wanted to give her new staff a few days to get used to working with the machines and getting the hang of things before going all out. Over the weekend, she put up some fliers and started getting the word spread around town where she could. It's not like Luceti's all that big that she doesn't think people will hear about it. Plus, there's a wave of new arrivals now settling in, so it's as good a time as any to have a public event.

Fortunately the weather turns out to be nice for the day, and Natasha's got the outdoor tables set up as well as the ones in the cafe. They're serving both hot and cold drinks - coffees, lattes, even Italian sodas and anything that could possibly be mixed from their menu - as well as some baked goods and snacks to go along with them.

Anyone's welcome to stop by at any point, whether its just to check the place out, catch up with friends or make some new ones.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A goner, is it?

[For a moment, she hesitates, surprised by the abrupt turn of topic, her gaze searching his face, his thoughtful expression. Debates replying with humor or seriousness and settles halfway between. Her own gaze is warm as she sets aside her tasks for the time being and gives him her full attention, fingers cupped lightly against his jaw.]

Leave it to you to want to strike up a romance in the midst of a bar fight.

[He's normally good at this, at least he thinks so. He isn't sure what it is about Natasha that makes him feel like he's tripping over his own tongue. He drops his gaze briefly when she teases him, tilting his head back up again when her cool fingers skim his jaw. He gives her a wry smile.]

Well, I know I didn't buy you dinner but it kinda counts as dancing, right..?

In it's own way, yes, I believe it does.

[Her smile is fond and matching his in wryness as she searches his face a moment.]

Why so pensive all of a sudden? What brought this on? Is everything alright?

Everything's fine - great. It's just...

[He cards his fingers through his hair.]

For the last few months, I've been kinda hung up on the idea that I'm gonna wake up one day, and you're gonna be gone, and maybe if I kept a little distance, I could actually deal with that, you know? [He laughs, quiet and humorless.] Losing people you love gets... really old.

Then I guess, lately, I kinda realized that I'm an idiot. It doesn't matter. It really doesn't matter. Because even if I didn't say it, it wouldn't change anything. The fact is -- I'm in love with you.

[His words take the breath out of her lungs for a moment and she can only stare at him. Then she reaches out, catching his hand to keep him from agitated fidgeting, twining her fingers with his instead. Her other hand lifted to rest careful fingers against his cheek, the touch warm and light and tender to match the look in her eyes as she smiled at him, the expression lighting up her face with soft fondness.]

I understand all too well the pain of losing people you love. I've lost enough that I've become hesitant to let just anyone in, to let myself care about them. I try to keep myself safe by keeping my distance. But you're not the only one that was a goner that day in the bar, Bucky. James. And if I'd ever thought I couldn't love you more than I already did, I'd have been wrong. This is a side of you I never imagined I'd get to know, and I've cherished every second of it I've been gifted with. I wake up each morning grateful for being here, with you, and I don't want anything to change that. Not for anything in the world would I give this up.

[Her smile turns a bit crooked, wavering as she gives a small laugh and ducks her head, eyes misting with emotion before her smile returns, full and bright, her gaze bright on his.] I love you, James Barnes.

[She knows, of course she does. He tangles his fingers with hers, leans into her touch like it's early morning sunshine on his skin.]

Of course you wouldn't give up mornings. Where would you put your cold feet?

[Despite the attempt at levity, his voice wavers slightly on the last word, and he has to swallow this new tangle of emotions.

For a while he didn't like it when she called him James, for a number of reasons. It's still a little odd to hear from someone he's so close to, but it's what his mother called his father, and he supposes that he can live with that. She loves him. Not a memory, him. He thinks, knowing that, he could live with anything.

Something tight in his chest unravels, and he smiles at her.

She loves him.

She loves him.

He wraps his arms around her, pulling her close like he can memorize the way her body fits against his.] I hope you realize you're stuck with me now, no refunds. I can't promise nothing will ever happen, but... There's one thing I can do.

Oh no, he's guessed it. The real reason I enjoy keeping him in my bed each night.

[She laughs softly at that, letting herself be tugged, melting against him warmly and wrapping herself around him as she leans up and kisses him, the contact saying everything she couldn't put into words, all the emotions that no language in the world could add up to describe in its fullness.]

I don't want a refund. I want you. I fully intend to keep you.

[Bucky laughs.] I'm not goin' anywhere.

[If he can help it. But he deliberately pushes that thought away, and it's easy with her warmth and the familiar curves of her body fitting against his. He tries to pour everything he can't put into words into the kiss, and somehow that's easy too, when he can feel her responding in kind.

When he pulls back finally, a little breathless, he brushes a lock of hair out of her face and tucks it behind her ear. Sometimes he wishes he had Steve's talent with a pencil. She's really the most beautiful woman he's ever laid eyes on.]

This is probably pretty old fashioned by your time but... [His fingers dip under the collar of his shirt so he can catch the chain on his dog tags - well, tag, since there's only one on the chain right now - tugging it out and over his head. He grins at her, offering it up.] Would you do me the honor, Ms. Romanoff?

[His actions have her pausing in surprise a moment, her pulse stuttering as she stares at what he offers her and she's touched and speechless and she can feel the back of her eyes burning. She lifts a hand, closing her fingers around the metal, feeling it warm against her skin from where it had rested against his. She closes her eyes for the briefest of moments, fingers just holding his gift. And then she lifts it to her lips, pressing her kiss against the tag, feeling the shape of his name against her lips.]

I don't mind a little old fashioned. I'll cherish it, and keep it safe.

[She meets his gaze, letting everything she's feeling show in her own, letting herself be completely unguarded and open for him. Letting him see how deeply the simple action touched her.]

[Like the pancakes on her birthday, he thinks of it as a gesture that's too small and too simple and not enough, by far. The clear, open depth of her reaction staggers him, makes it hard to breathe.

He takes her hand in his and presses a kiss to her knuckles.]

Just keep it close. So you remember. If you're ever lost or lonely, there's someone out there who knows your name.

[She has no response for that. No words that would do it justice, express what that simple statement means to her. When did he get to know her so well?

She doesn't bother with words. Instead, she lifts the chain over her neck, dropping the tags to the safety of their new resting place, and then throws her arms about his neck, burying her face against his throat as she holds him tightly.]

[Her name is a sharp exhale with how quickly she grabs him, but he doesn't tense, doesn't hesitate for a second. He wraps both arms around her and holds her tightly, eyes closed. As complicated as their lives are, or will become, he doesn't think there's any universe in which he wouldn't have fallen in love with her.]

Grand Opening!

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