forum Marvel AU OxO?

Started November 29, 2019 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

Steve sighed, nodded once, and made a move towards the door. God, He thought, I hope this doesn't open a can of worms. The last thing I need right now is to agonize over this.

Tony opened up the door, and led Steve out and back into the atmosphere of the party. He was smiling. "By the way, Steve? I'm not going to tell the others unless you do."

"Thanks," Steve said with a nod as they discreetly rejoined the crowd, "I don't think I'll be telling them any time soon, even though they've all probably got their own theories," He chuckled, "I mean– Sam would never shut up about it, if he really knew."

Tony snickered softly. "No, he wouldn't, at that." he agreed with a slight smirk, looking over at Steve for a moment, then away again. "Now go enjoy the party."

"I was supposed to be enjoying it? We've practically invited the entirety of Wall Street," Steve said with playful sarcasm, smiling plainly at the crowd.

Tony snorted softly, laughing a little bit. "Right, right. Just go…look like you're having fun, alright?" he replied, shaking his head a little bit.

Steve nodded, letting out a breathy laugh before he fixed his expression into something a little more happy-looking. "Will do," He said, turning to reinsert himself into the crowd.

Tony smiled a little, and vanished into the crowd. He touched a deep breath and started talking.

Steve made his way through the sea of dark suits and plain chatter, stopping to make small talk when he was spotted by a few people of 'importance,' as he tried to find Bucky, answering the same questions he'd been asked with 'Yes, I'm really glad he's back,' 'I was shocked at first, yes, but things are definitely improving,' and 'Of course, I'll always be by his side.'

Bucky was over by the window still, having been cornered by two businessmen in sharp suits. He kept his hands by his sides as he spoke, watching them carefully and trying not to seem like he was about to threaten them or something.

After a few moments of dull conversation, Steve managed to break away, resuming his overhead search for Bucky. He stuck to the sides, trying to avoid as much conversation as he could before he saw a flash of brown hair behind two other businessmen. Not again. He moved towards them, muttering a few 'Excuse me's as he went.

Cornered was perhaps not precisely the right word, but the fact remained that Bucky was essentially trapped in the conversation.

Steve approached them, taking care to keep his smile up as he interrupted their little talk. "Evenin' fellas," He chimed, trying to decode their vague expressions as they nodded politely in return.

The two men looked up. "Ah, good evening." one said with a faint smile. "We were just talking to your…friend…here." the pauses before and after "Friend" was a little strange.

"Mhm," Steve said with a little nod, "Best friend, yeah. Since childhood, and through the war." He smiled cheekily, hoping the men wouldn't catch his involuntary sarcasm, "But uh– so sorry for interrupting, I sure hope it wasn't important. I just wanted to quickly check in with my friend."

The man nodded. "Of course." He replied, looking at Steve. "We were just talking, no big deal." They drifted off.

Bucky let out a breath. "Thanks." He said, shaking his head a little bit.

"Don't mention it," Steve said with a hint of a smile, watching as the two disappeared into the crowd, "Sorry I was gone so long."

"It's fine." Bucky replied. "I figured it was probably important." he shrugged just a little bit.

"Yeah," Steve nodded, looking down as he tried to hide his smile. He might like me back. "Yeah, something like that.

Bucky studied him for a moment, and nodded. He looked away after a moment, running a hand over the top of his head. "How much longer is this going to be? The party?" He asked.

"Honestly? I don't know," Steve shrugged, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of the party dying down, "I'm seeing more and more people leave, but there hasn't been an end-speech or anything conclusive."

Bucky sighed softly. "Ugh." He replied, shaking his head a little bit. "Great." He took his hair out of the ponytail, letting it hang loose around his shoulders.

"I'm sure it won't be much longer," Steve said, looking down at his watch and quietly noticing how Bucky's hair framed his face. "Why, do you think we should pull an Irish goodbye?" He said with a smile.

Bucky's eyebrows drew together a little bit. "What do you mean?" He asked, looking at Steve curiously. "I don't…remember that expression."

"Oh– it's when you leave a party early, without telling anyone," Steve answered, smiling at the memory of all the 'parties' they ditched when they were younger.

Bucky blinked, then nodded a little. "If you're alright with leaving, then…" he trailed off with a little shrug. He'd be perfectly alright with leaving now.

"Yeah," Steve said with a nod, smiling, "Let's ditch these two-bit hustlers. Where do you wanna go?"

Bucky laughed a little bit, and shrugged. "I don't know. I don't really care." I'd just rather be with you than stuck with these people.

"Hmm," Steve smiled, chewing his lip thoughtfully, "Do you wanna…go out on the tenth-floor balcony?" He asked, remembering the west-facing stretch beneath the helipad. We might even catch the sunset.