(oke~ have a good night)
Steve rolled his eyes again, noticing that Bucky was silent: which wasn't strange for him, but he was hearing all the things Tony was saying about them. "I wasn't even drunk. I was just barely tipsy." He lied, "And that was after a couple drinks. I don't know how you'd plan to get me– and Bucky –actually drunk."
"A very strong cocktail, courtesy of Thor. He'd give me it if he knew it was for a good cause." Tony replied, sticking out his tongue for a moment, before returning his gaze to the road.
"You're a menace," Steve replied, trying to stifle his grin. He couldn't possibly get his hands on something like that. He twisted to look back into the back seat, smiling at his wistful-looking ex-assassin, "Bucky– tell him he's a menace, back me up."
Bucky blinked, looking over. "You're a menace." he agreed simply, then looked out the window again.
Tony snorted softly, shaking his head. "Ah, come on."
Steve laughed, shifting back into his seat with a smile. "But really, Tony" He said, "I don't think a drink can be that strong. I'd like to think we have a little self-control." It was a half-truth, of course. Because if the opportunity really presented itself–
(did you know that Eternals is going to feature an openly gay couple?? And a kiss between them like it's nbd that they're being included in like the biggest movie thing right now??)
Tony chuckled softly. "Oh, it can be. Just have to get you to drink enough." he smirked again, steering through the streets as they got closer to the tower.
(wow~~ thats promising, also– i meant to say a while ago: im assuming you saw the winter soldier + falcon clip during the superbowl!!!??)
"And I question again; how do you plan on doing that?" Steve smiled, well aware of how strangely entertaining it was to talk about. "Have you really thought this through?"
(yeah!! oh fuck yes i did and im so fucking excited aaahahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!)
Tony smirked. "Of course I've thought about it. I'll figure out how to get you two drunk, don't worry." he replied, shaking his head a little bit.
(eheehee!!! i know!! me too!! i dont have disney plus, so i'll probably have to pirate it but still!!!!)
"Oh, I'm worryin' alright." Steve laughed, wondering if Tony really had given it thought: the two of them together. It seemed like nearly everyone else was predicting the same. But they don't know how I feel, or how he feels.
(I have Disney+, so…super excited!!!)
Tony chuckled. "Uh huh. About what, though?" He asked teasingly, smirking a little bit as he spoke.
Bucky let out a breath, shaking his head slightly.
(aaahh!!! also!— did u see the video from san diego comic con where they talk about the next phase for movies + shows?? i am SO excited for black panther 2. and black widow???? AHH)
"A couple of things actually," Steve chuckled, he was always worried, about himself, about the world, about Bucky. "And 'I'll figure out how to get you two drunk' is one of 'em. You sure got a nice way of pushing ideals."
(no I didn't!! But I'm so excited for those two movies aaaahhhh!)
Tony shrugged. "Yeah, well." He ran a hand through his black hair. "I'm not the only one who ships you two after that picture of Sam's."
Steve narrowed his eyes at him, trying to suppress his curious smile, "Whaddyou mean, 'not the only one?'" He asked, though had already assumed the rest of the group had suspected the same, but if Tony knew…Had they discussed it?
(heres the one i watched!!! eek!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p_7OH5AdWs)
(will watch later!! Thanks!)
Tony blinked. "Ah. Er. Well. Someone, not going to name names, may have started a group chat without you and we talked about it?" He replied, laughing a little.
(👍🏽)
Steve stared at him for a minute, waiting for him to say he was kidding. So they really thought that they– "Oh." He said, trying to decide between raising his eyebrows and smiling as he averted his eyes to the road in front of him, "So you guys really think that–"
Tony smirked again, turning into the tower. "Yeah. " He agreed, chuckling a little bit. "We do." He shrugged slightly.
Steve mumbled something dismissive an incoherent, thinking back to the fountain and how everyone would tease them about it the next time they saw them. "Well…you're wrong." Steve quietly told him; a half-lie. Bucky couldn't possibly feel that way about him. But Steve? That had been a truth for as long as he could remember.
Tony chuckled. "Mm. Suit yourself." He replied with a shrug. He pulled into the garage, parking the car. "But I know what I think."
"Mhh, keep your thoughts to yourself," Steve mumbled, trying to hide his smile and hoping Bucky could see it through the rearview mirror. And I'll keep my thoughts and feelings to myself, and then, one day– I'll die. He freed himself of his seatbelt, stepping out of the sleek car.
Tony stuck his tongue out. "Why would I do that?" he got out of the car, putting the keys in his pocket, smirking a little bit.
Bucky got out of the car, sighing softly. He grabbed the sketchbook and book, holding them carefully.
Steve held his short stack of things under one arm, shutting the door with the other, "Hmph, it would be out of the ordinary for you to take note of some boundaries, so…I don't know." He said with a short laugh, wondering how Bucky was perceiving their banter.
Tony rolled his eyes. "Boundaries? What boundaries? I'm rich." he replied, shaking his head and smiling. For all his teasing, he was still a good man.
Bucky was silent still, closing his door and waiting for Steve and Tony to be done.
"–Well, it costs nothing to be respectful," Steve said, shrugging as he walked. "Because as you know, the best things in life are free, and second-best: very, very expensive." He added with a playful smile
Tony sighed. "Actually, the best things in life are usually expensive. Good wine, for instance. Or new cars." he was only teasing still. He knew exactly what Steve meant.
Bucky was quiet as he followed them, a few strands of brown hair hanging into his face.
Steve just scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, well, I didn't pay for Bucky," He muttered under his breath, smiling as he reorganized his grip on his books. Really, I don't know if I was just lucky, or someone put in a good word for me with the man up above.
Tony shrugged a little bit. "Didn't you?" he replied. "Not all payments are made in money, you know." he ran a hand through his hair.
Bucky sighed softly, but didn't say anything.
"It didn't cost me anything," Steve shrugged back, making his way to the elevator. "I've lived a pretty o-kay life, certainly not comfortably, but…happy, more-or-less." That was an understatement.
Tony shrugged. "Yeah, but how much of the suffering have you gone through because of him? At least indirectly."
Bucky frowned a little bit, running his hand through his hair.
"Suffering?" Steve questioned, pressing the button for the elevator, "What suffering?" There had been longing, yearning, grief, and aching, but did those classify under suffering? He quietly glanced at Bucky, knowing that whatever pain he went through 'indirectly' was worth it, because he was here now.
