Chapter Text
It was the night of Nat’s party, and Steve was actually quite excited for once. His friend was turning twelve, the eldest of the small group. He raced down the old wooden stairs, to his best friend, Bucky, waiting outside the door on his bright red bike. They had agreed to cycle to Natasha’s house for the celebration.
“ hey stevo “ the brunette grinned, pleased with his nickname.
Steve huffed a sarcastic sigh, as he took the gravel path to unchain his blue, rusty bike. “ I think we’ve talked about that nickname before....bucket “ he murmured, pleased with his own creation.
Bucky laughed in reply, walking over to playfully shove his friend. The blonde shoved back, racing over and getting onto the red bike.
“ smell you later! “ he cackled, as he left the other boy shouting in his back garden.
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Ten minutes after Steve arrived at his friends house, the doorbell rang though the hallway. Natasha raced out to answer it, excited for more people joining the party. Outside her door, was a very tired Bucky, heaving after what seemed like running a marathon. Natasha smirked, and didn’t question.
“ where’s Steve, Nat?? “ Bucky asked, leaning against the door frame.
She laughed in reply, pointing into the sitting room, where Steve was trying to play a game of monopoly with Bruce. Natasha moved out the way as Bucky came storming through, to Steve’s surprise.
“ you...didn’t unchain yOUR BIKE!! “ the older boy shouted, with no real anger in his tone. Natasha and Bruce looked on in amusement, with a hint of confusion.
“ waait wha- “ Steve started to say, but his friend cut in between him. “ I had to rUN STEVEN. rUn “
With that, the boy on the floor reeled over in laugher. You’d swear he just heard the funniest joke in Brooklyn. He continued laughing, as Bucky looked on in anger, which suddenly turned into light laughter, until both boys were rolling in tears. Their friends looked on in confusion, wondering what on earth they were laughing about.
Eventually, they calmed down, as the doorbell signaled the arrival of pizza. After much bustling around, turning on a movie, Star Wars to be specific, the eldest of the group spoke out.
“ so...wanna tell us what that was about? “ she questioned, raising an arched eyebrow. “ he started it!!! “ both boys yelled at the same time, blocking out the opening tunes of ‘ empire strikes back’ . Nat sighed, so used to their bickering by now. “ Steve, you first “. Bruce added in, trying to help the situation, even though he’d much rather his friends to shut up before the movie starts...
“ Bucky shoved me sO I stole his bike “ Steve said simply, smirking in the brunettes direction. Bucky glared at him, turning to Natasha.
“ and then, stove over here ran off, leaving me yelling in his yard! “ Bruce started laughing, so the boy threw a pillow at him.
“ and then, he forgot to unchain his bike, so I had to RUN, and you know BUCKY DOESN’T DO RUNNING “ he yelled again, exasperated. But instead of the sympathy he was expecting, he was greeted with the continued laughing fit from Bruce, the other two joining in.
With that, Bucky tackled his best friend to the floor, among pizza and candy wrappers. The room was once again filled with laughter, as the boys play fought.
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After hours of film watching and board game playing, the group of friends began to get tired and bored. They debated on what they should do next, to celebrate Nat’s birthday. Bucky lay upside down on a tattered, worn couch, sipping on an empty capri sun. He pondered for a bit, before declaring he had this great idea. He sat up, and yelled with delight, “ truth or dare! “
The others groaned with dismay, especially Steve, with his intense hatred for getting into trouble. “ come on guys, it’ll be fun! Either that or we raid the fridge “
Steve began to raise his hand for the fridge raiding, but quickly put it down as a glare from the brunette was pointed at him. “ okayyy fine “ Natasha sighed, mentally preparing for the harm that may be caused. What harm would a small group of eleven year olds ( and one twelve year old ) do?
A lot, turns out.
After a couple of “ who do you like “ and “ I dare you to ring Ms Kennedy’s door “s, the group, well, Bucky came up with an “ amazing dare “ for Steve.
“ I dare you “ he broke off laughing, “ I dare you...to eat thirty five diet pudding cups...in two hours “ he continued, a big smirk on his face.
Steve yelled in disgust, whilst his friends broke off in more laughter. “ no way guys, I’d get sick all over Ms Romanoff’s nice couch “ with that, more laughter.
“ mom won’t care, obviously. Buck and I will cycle over to the store, maybe they’ll have uh, thirty five diet pudding cups “ with that, she stood up, dragging a sniggering Bucky with her.
“ Bruce you’re gonna have to kill me pal “ Steve sighed, bracing himself for the result.
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The next morning, as the two boys cycled home ( Bucky borrowed Nat’s bike ), Bucky was still laughing about it.
The previous night, Steve had somehow succeeded in completing the strange dare. But now, he felt very sick.
“ Buck, just give it a rest “ Steve sighed, very tired of his best friends antics. He sighed with relief, as they drew closer to Steve’s house.
As he drove in the gate, he heard Bucky calling out, a smirk in his tone;
“ see ya later, diet pudding boy “
Steve, once again, groaned.