"Why would-" Steve shook his head, this wasn't the way he'd imagined confronting whatever it was he felt, "..No."
"Maybe?" Sam suggested.
"Why not?" Nat added quietly.
It's for the bet. He reminded himself, They're just wanting to prove a point.
Bucky raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What…" He trailed off, not sure what to ask. He really had no idea. There was some undercurrent that he didn't understand.
Natasha almost giggled at Bucky's confusion, knowing well enough that he would be betting with them in due time.
"Just– no." Steve persisted, sighing at everyone's speculation, "Sorry, they're all–" He turned to Bucky, apologizing for them before facing them again, "It's not going to happen. It is not like that."
Sam shot him a look, Is it though?
Bucky cocked his head a little bit. "I… alright." He replied slowly. What if I wanted it to happen? He wondered, frowning just a little bit.
"Hm." Steve sounded in a tired nod, turning to the rest of the group, "So, what's up with you guys?" He asked, hoping they would finally drop it, even though he couldn't get the idea off his mind.
Tony grinned. "I've got a new project I'm working on." He replied. "You know, now that I exploded all my suits into metal fireworks." He grimaced.
"Right." Steve nodded, knowing better than to ask about his work– all this new technology was hard to keep up with and he was better off just being supportive, "Well, good luck on with that. And…thanks for letting us stay here, too." He added, glancing at Bucky with a hopeful smile, raising his glass to Tony in a small toast.
Bucky smiled a little bit in return. He ran a hand through his dark hair, fidgeting for a moment. He mimicked Steve, trying to smile, though it was more of a grimace.
Steve smiled at Bucky's hand running through his hair, realizing that he never really did that before. It was something new and almost…quirky of him. Cute. He let his gaze linger for maybe a moment too long, and he turned away, hoping Tony hadn't caught that. Because 'just friends' don't look at each other like that, He reminded himself.
Bucky dropped his hands to the table, studying Tony and Steve for a moment. He took a deep breath, not sure what to do or say.
Tony did indeed notice, but didn't comment.
(Ooh! They should all get drunk and end up playing like…truth or dare or something, and Steve and Bucky get dared to like… kiss lmao)
(bahahh yes!)
After a little bit, the chatter died down and people finished their meals. Sam and Natasha helped load dishes into the dishwasher and the group slowly moved to the living room for drinks, Thor's bottle of liqueur coming along with him.
"How about we play a game?" Nat suggested as she poured some drinks.
Tony grinned. "Yes. What are we playing?" He replied, taking a drink.
Bucky was quiet, staying near Steve and simply observing. He didn't have anything to say, really.
"Truth or–" Sam started excitedly, "Truth or Dare." He nodded.
"Truth or Dare?" Steve questioned, placing a few glasses on the coffee table next to Thor's bottle and trying to remember if he knew what that was.
Tony grinned, laughing. "Yes!" He crowed. "Perfect!"
Bucky raised his eyebrows, looking at Steve. "What's that?" He asked softly.
Natasha chuckled at Tony's enthusiasm, pouring her own drink, straight vodka, it seemed.
"I think– Is that…" Steve squinted his eyes, trying to think if he'd played it before, "Is that the one with questions? And you gotta do whatever they tell you? Or something?" He asked the group.
Tony nodded. "Yeah. So if I asked you "truth or dare", you would pick one, and either you would have to tell me anything I asked, or you would have to do a dare. Get it?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
Bucky nodded a little bit.
"Okay, sounds fun." Steve shrugged, sinking comfortably into the couch and only thinking about when he'd get his hands on that Asgardian stuff, not even thinking about how the bet was still on everyone's minds.
"Who's goin first?" He smiled.
Tony looked at Nat. "Not me." he replied. "It wasn't my idea." he took a sip of his drink.
Thor opened up the bottle, and poured glasses for himself, Steve, and Bucky.
Natasha smiled from her glass, rolling her eyes, "Okay– I'll go." She cleared her throat, turning to Bruce, "Truth or dare?"
Steve couldn't get the drink in his hands fast enough. He took a large sip and immediately forgot how strong it was, swallowing with a few coughs.
Bucky cautiously took a sip of his own drink, a much smaller one than Steve had. He glanced over at Steve.
Bruce gave a small, cautious smile. "Dare, I think." he replied, picking up a drink, but not actually drinking any quite yet.
" I dare you to down that." She smiled, nodding at his drink and throwing a knitted blanket over her.
This could turn into a drinking game, Steve thought, taking another sip of his drink, swirling it in its glass.
Bruce frowned a little. "Alright, but I uh…I really shouldn't have too much, you know? I don't want you guys to have to, er…deal with…with a drunk hulk, alright?" he downed the drink in his hand, then set it down.
Sam applauded, taking a small sip of his own drink. Natasha chuckled into her glass, "Who's turn is it next?"
Bruce sighed. "I'll do it. Uhm…Sam, truth or dare?" he asked, raising his eyebrows at the other man.
Bucky took a small sip of his drink, holding it in his right hand so as not to accidentally shatter the glass.
Sam squinted his eyes, deep in thought, "Truth." He nodded, "Truth."
Steve studied his glass as he listened to them, turning it and watching how the ice swirled with the amber drink.