#morethancupcake

it's my pleasure to draw our lil sunshine🥺❤️

PLEASE NOTE THIS FIC IS LOCKED, You will need to be logged into AO3 to read it.

Summary: "Protecting Tony Stark is like keeping an open fire in the palm of his hand. It's like fighting the rain.  It keeps him alive, in a way." All it takes is a tiny Tony, and suddenly being right doesn't seem important anymore.

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Past Child abuse

Joe knows exactly what he’s doing when he walks into the closet to find a shirt and sees one of Nicky’s gray t-shirts on the top of the laundry basket, clean but not yet folded.

He and Nicky have different tastes, but Joe can’t deny the softness of the cotton, how warm and comfortable it is under his hands when he touches Nicky. He smiles as he lifts the shirt from the basket, remembering, and puts it on.

It’s tight around the chest and shoulders, but Joe doesn’t think Nicky will mind if he stretches it out a little. So he pulls on a pair of his own black pants and steps out of the closet.

Nicky’s still in bed, but sitting up, yawning. The blankets collect at his waist. He’s shirtless.

Joe leans against the closet door frame, enjoying the view. Also, waiting.

Nicky peeks at Joe with one eye while rubbing the other. Quickly, his hand falls away and he stares at Joe with both eyes wide open.

“Joe.”

“Yes, my heart?”

“That is my shirt.”

(so they don’t cook together so much as bake separately but lol. thank you dear :))

It’s just cupcakes. Some eggs and flour. Dash of milk. Lots of sugar.

Except its not just cupcakes. It’s war.

Dean is so, so tired of losing the neighborhood bake-off to the nerdy guy next door. The one with the too-blue eyes who frequently saunters into Dean’s nighttime (and daytime) fantasies wearing nothing but an apron with bees for pockets. An apron hot neighbor Castiel actually owns, he wore it to the bake-off last year. Dean hates that apron. Just like he hates Castiel.

But this year will be different. Dean’s been practicing for months, looking up recipes online, testing them on Sam. He’s close - really close - to baking perfection.

Today he’s elbow deep in batter for classic vanilla. He’s already whipped up some rainbow icing for on top; it’s in the fridge. He’s about to pour the batter into the cupcake tray when the doorbell rings.

Dean lowers the bowl back to the counter, cleans off his hands on a towel, and heads for the door. He throws it open.

Castiel stands there in a dirty old overcoat, button-up shirt, and a tie. The tie’s lopsided, just like the smile on his face. He has a cupcake container under one arm. “Hello, Dean.”

Dean narrows his eyes. “Evening, Cas.”

“I was wondering...” Castiel offers him a wobbly smile. His gaze drops. “Maybe you’d like to...” He clears his throat. “I brought these cupcakes, and I thought maybe you would like to share?”

“Share?”

“With me. It’s, um, a beautiful evening. We could sit on the porch and... Why are you looking at me like that?”

Dean juts a finger at him. “I know what this is.”

“You do?”

“I sure do. And it’s not going to work on me.”

Castiel’s smile slips. “It isn’t?”

Dean starts to feel bad, seeing Cas frown, but no. Castiel is the one who should feel bad, coming here just to spy.

Cas clutches the cupcake container against his chest. “I apologize. I knew Sam was mistaken.”

Sam! The betrayal runs deep.

Cas continues, “You’d never be into a guy like me.”

“That’s right! I...” Wait. “What...?”

Cas starts to turn, and no. Oh, no. No, no. Dean grabs his arm.

“Cas?” Dean swallows hard. “Are you trying to scope out my cupcake recipe?”

Cas tilts his head, just slightly, to one side. “Dean.” He’s looking at Dean like he’s a puzzle missing a few pieces. “I am asking you on a date.” He says it like it’s so simple. Maybe it is.

“Oh.” Dean crosses his arms. He re-evaluates. He thinks about Cas in that apron again, with bees for pockets. Maybe that wasn’t the rage fantasy he suspected. Maybe it was just hot. “Okay.”

Cas smiles, wider than before. “Okay?”

“Yeah,” Dean says. “But don’t think I’ll go easy on you at the bake-off.”

“Of course, Dean.”

Cas’s cupcakes are delicious. They taste even better from Cas’s tongue.

Dean loses the bake-off, but he keeps trying. “One day I’ll get you,” he says, arms around Cas, face in the crook of Cas’s neck.

I haven’t reblogged it lately so I am posting the link for everyone!

https://aurumacadicus.tumblr.com/tagged/master-list

morethancupcake said:

I remember Steve being quite upset about Bucky becoming his own person away from the old Bucky. I think I remember him (S) confronting Tony about his involvement in Bucky's recovery. It was less than 10k (I think ?). I would say it's at least a year old ? I keep finding stories where Bucky just focuses on Tony to ground himself, but I'm pretty sure in this story he was trying to do things by himself outside the Tower, having a regular life and sharing his small victories with T. Thank you !

1. What was your last musical discovery ? Ashamed to admit it, but I never "discover" anything when it comes to music. I barely ever listen to the radio, or follow what's new on youtube. Due to friends who sometimes send me links I hear some new releases. In 2019 it was Lizzo.

2. Is there one trend that everyone is following and you just can’t understand ? I already talked about a gazillion of insta stories per day, LOL Avocado in everything? Avocado and fucking bananas. Maybe not everyone everyone follows it, but a majority. "Try it, I added avocado." No, thank you.

3. Have you ever tried to bake or cook something several times only to fail miserably ? If yes, what was it ? If not, what could it be ? Hmm, I don't think so? I mean, I've failed on the first try plenty of times, but a second and next times ended in success. Though I'm quite sure I'd fail at making beef wellington. Even thinking about it makes me shiver with dread.  

4. What was your best movie of 2019 ? Honsetly, for me "Knives out" stole this year. It was a thoroughly entertaining viewing, with brilliant creations.

5. What singer has the voice you find the most soothing ? Oh, interesting question. I think there's something about Florence Welch's voice that is both soothing and haunting at the same time.

6. What singer has the voice you find most irritating ? Madonna. I'm not gonna take it back, her voice is irritating.

7. Have you ever heard an advice that sounded pretty basic but was in fact pretty useful ? An advice which I myself use to this day every time I'm in need - if you have stomach bug and vomit, drink black tea (strong, dark as night, no sugar) in small sips. You can add ginger to it, but the advice was of black tea alone. It works magic on disturbed stomach.

8. Do you have any tip or hack you want to share ? If you have an itching insect bite (mosquito, ant, wasp, other), but don't have at hand any hydrocortisonum ointments or pills like Benadryl, reach for an onion or chive. Cut a slice of onion and put it over the itching place (for chive- cut open chive stem and put the moist inner side over the bite). It will take down any swelling, redness, as well help with the itching.

9. Can you make a list of three books you think most people would enjoy ? There's a bit of a problem with that, because I'd recommend some Polish books which unfortunately aren't yet translated into other languages. Definitely books by Elżbieta Cherezińska. As for books which are more obtainable out there in the world: - "The Legend of Sheba" by Tosca Lee - "The Angel's Game" by Carlos R. Zafón - "Dirty pretty things" by Michael Faudet

10. What’s your almost shameful but really enjoyable, all time favorite, comfort food pick ? Pierogi. Like, is that a surprise? No. And not shameful either. Just, pierogi cure any sads for me. They're always all time favorite. If I don't have them at hand, I go for simple sugar rush - hot cocoa and a slice of fresh bread with some strawberry jam.