Chapter Text
Sharon & Steve
Clint will admit it. Weddings are not his thing. Uncomfortable shoes, fancy food and small talk? Please, he’d much rather be at home right now in his sweats, eating ramen and watching shitty reality TV. But it’s Steve’s wedding. Steve Rogers. The man with the kindest eyes, biggest heart and if Clint was being completely candid ugliest nose he’s ever come across. How could he complain about seeing Steve Rogers finally marry the love of his life! He will just have to suffer. Steve ran the bakery underneath his apartment and blessed his nose and his stomach with the most delicious concoctions known to man. Clint hadn’t truly lived until Steve turned up one July morning at his door covered in flour and water to tell Clint there was a leak coming from his apartment. In Clint’s defence he got distracted by these two pigeons on the fire escape fighting over a cigarette and forgot he was running a bath.
‘I think our city birds have become addicted to cigarettes! It’s an issue that I will be thinking about when casting my vote this autumn,’ Clint explained to the near stranger who was dripping flour water onto his doorstep.
‘Can you please phone the super, I haven’t had any contact from the landlord and my shop floor is filling with water as we speak.’
‘Oh, I’m the super.’ Clint smiles up at his new tenant.
‘What?’
‘And the landlord…’ Clint hesitates. ‘I kinda own this place.’ The stranger pushed his lips into a straight line. Steve knew the person renting a shop as big as his in the middle of Bed-Stuy for pennies had to be an idiot and he was right.
‘Can you at least fix this?’ Clint shrugged.
‘But,’ he hit Steve with some finger guns. ‘I know someone who does!’
And that’s how Steve met Nat and then subsequently met Sharon. Who Clint was watching right now stare herself down in a giant gold framed mirror. She looked other-worldly. Her dress was lace down to her waist and then an elegant tulu down the floor. Her hair framed her face in soft curls and Nat had done a great job with her make-up. Clint had known Sharon since he moved to Brooklyn 10 years ago with no job and a lump sum inheritance from a no-good father who drank himself into an early grave. Sharon was the one who got him the job at The Post and convinced him to invest the money while the economy was in tatters. Thank god for the recession. She and Nat had stopped Clint from completely spiralling out of control and he’s pretty sure he’d be back in Iowa living with his mother at 30 if they hadn’t taken him under their wing.
‘I’m freaking out,’ Sharon interrupted Clint’s reminiscing.
‘You’re marrying Stevie, Sharon, he’s the most solid guy I’ve ever met.’ Nat mumbled applying eyeliner while looking in a compact with intricate precision. Clint stood off the bed and walked up behind Sharon.
‘You and Steve are it. You don’t get anymore in love that you two.’ Sharon smiles through the mirror at Clint. She really did look beautiful.
‘Thank you, but it’s not that I’m freaking out about.’ Sharon turns to face them and unclasps her veil. ‘Steve doesn’t have any family. He lost both his parent’s before he turned 18 and he’s been on his own since. Except-‘
‘Except?’ Nat glances up from the compact.
‘His best man. He’s like a brother to Steve and, I don’t know, I feel like I have to impress him. They’ve known each other since they were just kids and he’s so important to Steve. I want him to think I’m good enough.’ She throws her veil down onto the bed and sighs.
‘No offence, but we’ve all known Steve for what? 5 years and you’ve been his girlfriend for 4, how have none of us ever met this guy? He can’t be that important!’ Clint guides Sharon to sit on the bed with him.
‘He’s been living over in the Europe for 6 years now and he’s only been over to visit a few times and I’ve always been busy.’ Sharon was the head editor at The Post; even Clint didn’t see her much anymore and he works for her. Clint turned to Nat.
‘Go steal Steve’s expensive whiskey.’ Nat nodded quickly with a sly smile. Clint turned back to Sharon.
‘Listen. You are a hoot,’ Sharon laughs, ‘you are beautiful and Steve is lucky to have found you.’ He can see her eyes begin to water and eyes up the little packet of tissues Sam bought everyone because ‘Steve’s probably gonna cry and that means we are all probably gonna cry’. ‘And, if this guy had any sense then he’ll know before he even meets you that you are good enough.’ Sharon takes a deep breath and shakes her head.
‘I can’t believe I’m getting married.’ She smiles softly. Clint pulls her into a soft hug not wanting to ruin her dress. Nat stumbles in at that and hands Sharon the bottle while pulling Clint out into the hall.
‘Bridesmaids stuff; don’t worry.’ Sharon laughs at the two of them while unscrewing the bottle. Once the two are out of the room Nat drops Clint's hand. ‘We have a problem,’ she whispers.
‘What?’ Clint starts to panic. Steve’s bailed. What a dick. Clint will kill him. Clint’s gonna kill him and then kick him out; and in that order.
‘Steve’s best man is hot.’ Nat says her eyes fixed with panic. Clint was too busy mentally thanking the heavens he didn’t have to find a place to dispose of Steve’s body, cause what a god damn pain that would be, to be confused at why Nat was panicking.
‘What did you expect Nat? Attractive people aren’t friend with ugly people.’ It’s basic human nature.
‘Then how do you explain us.’ She quips her eyebrows shifting slightly.
‘That was mean.’ Clint shoves at her.
'Anyway, I don’t mean he’s kinda cute. I mean he’s…’ She nods her head back and forth like she’s trying to tell Clint something in morse code.
‘What?’
‘He’s Evan.’
‘You’re kidding me?’ Evan was this really hot guy who used to work in the smoothie place down from Nat’s apartment. They never found out his name and Nat decided once day, while checking out his ass and sipping on her raspberry crush, that he looked like an Evan. He was the single most attractive man Nat and Clint had ever set eyes on. Then, one day, he just wasn’t there anymore. They were heartbroken for months. Clint hasn’t stopped thinking about him for 9 years.
‘No, it’s him!’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Am I sure that I just saw the most attractive man in the world again for the first time in nine years? Yes, of course I’m sure Clint!’ Clint huffed. This was big.
‘Wait…you’re saying we knew Evan before we knew Steve. That’s weird. Wait is his name actually Evan?’
‘I don’t know! As soon as I saw him I freaked out and left!’ Clint shook his head and then suddenly they both looked up at the door to the bridal suite.
When they rushed through the door Sharon was lying flat on her back staring up at the ceiling her dress consuming her in lace and tulu.
‘Sharon?’
‘Hmm?’ She look up at them and smiled.
‘What’s Steve’s best man’s name?’
‘Bucky. Why?’
‘That’s the single most stupidest name I’ve ever heard.’ Nat deadpanned.
‘We would never have guessed that.’ Clint throws his hands in the air and then falls down onto the bed next to Sharon. Nat follows and lies on her other side.
‘Do I even want to know?’ Sharon grumbles.
‘He’s Evan.’ Nat sighs.
‘Evan who?’
‘The Evan.’ Clint mimics Nat’s dreamy sigh.
‘The smoothie guy?’ Sharon never actually met Evan and so she only had Clint’s detailed description of his deep grey eyes and Nat’s quite crude drawing of him, that was still stuck to Clint’s fridge, to go on. There had been many a false sighting of Evan. Nat thought that she saw him in JFK in 2013, but that guy was way too short, Clint thought he saw him at the Met just last year, but when he sent Nat a photo she quickly debunked it, and once Sharon and Clint followed a guy on the Subway for 7 stops because he had the right kinda hair, but when he turned around he was most definitely a girl. ‘Are you sure?’
‘100%. It’s definitely him. Bucky is Evan.’
‘I guess we gotta stop calling him Evan now,’ mumbled Sharon from somewhere beneath her dress. Clint nods and so does Nat.
***
It wasn’t until after the ceremony that Clint was able to get a proper look at Bucky and yeah, Natasha was right, it’s him. He was gorgeous. Blue grey eyes, shiny brown curls and a smile that could knock you out. When Steve was reciting his vows Clint noticed how Bucky’s eyes flickered down and filled with tears in a moment. His hands twisted as he watched on which utter adoration dripping from his face.
Natasha’s yellow sun dress swished back and forth as she grabbed her and Clint some champagne. Sam, who had been AWAL most of the morning because of some disaster with the photographer appeared at her side and draped an arm around her. Clint felt the need to look away, but kept his cool. These two had danced around each other since they met and if he was honest it was driving him insane. Suddenly Steve was pulling all three of them out of the room and out onto the patio.
When Steve and Sharon told their friends they were getting married in New Jersey they all laughed. And laughed. And laughed. And only stopped laughing when the happy couple threatened to find a new party. New Jersey? When they live in the goddamn best city in the world? It all seemed like a big joke. Until Sharon drove Clint and Nat out there a month before the big day. Clint wasn’t expecting her to take them to a giant white greenhouse, a tall glass structure with hanging plants and twinkling lights. It was gorgeous. It was attached to an old hotel that they would have to house the wedding party and the greenhouse was to house the ceremony and reception with drinks in the ballroom in between. When Sharon described the day as she walked through the old and whimsical old building it was hard to believe they were in the worst place in the world.
‘It’s called The Garden State, Sharon. The Garden State. That’s like the worst state nickname. We live in The Empire Sate! The best state!’ Clint was hanging over the counter at the bakery while Sharon cleaned up for the day. Nat was lounged across a sofa like a cat watching him.
‘The Empire State is a stupid name,’ Sharon retorted from the back.
‘What about the Golden State?’
‘Too far away.’
‘The Bay State?’ Clint pushed himself over the counter a little further trying to catch her attention. ‘The Mountain State?’ Sharon came out wiping flour onto her apron. ‘The Ocean State?’ She looked down at him and frowned.
‘The Prairie State.’ Nat interjects. The two blondes turn to her with questioning eyes. ‘Illinois,’ she smirked back. Sharon laughed pulling off the apron and letting her hair down.
‘We are getting married in The Garden State and that’s final.’ Clint huffed pulling on his jacket. All three of them were nearly out the door when Sharon turned to switch off the lights.
‘The Peach State!’ Clint cried from the sidewalk.
‘How do you know all the state nicknames?’ Sharon laughed.
‘I have a lot of time on my hands.’ Was all he said as he dragged her down the street and to her bachelorette party; Nat following behind laughing a little too hard.
But, Clint was wrong The Garden State was a great. And now as they were dragged out the ballroom, through the greenhouse and out into cold brisk air it hit him just how perfect this little place was. Vines and lights ran all around the greenhouse decorating it so simply as Sharon and Steve’s reception was coming together quickly. Sharon was standing out of the patio with Bucky when Steve dragged the three out. She turned and smiled.
‘Okay, so we have no photographer, but Bucky is a goddamn savour.’ He smiled coyly and Clint wanted to cry at how cute his little blush was. ‘Bucky has an old Polaroid and enough prints to get a few mementos. The rest we can get on our phones.’ Bucky swung out his camera bag as they all formed a group in front of the tall glass structure. He snapped a picture of Steve and Sharon first. He handed the print to Sam and Clint watched in develop over his shoulder. It looked like something out of a fairy tale. Sharon’s dress creating a stream of white against the greenery and Steve smiling down at her in his navy suit. The next photo Steve is kissing the top of her head while she smiles so wide her eyes closed. Clint grabs the photo and gazes at it. Next was Sharon, Clint and Nat. They all huddled around pushing their faces up against each other which seemed ridiculous, but Steve was staring at them which such love in his eyes it felt instantly perfect.
‘You wanna get us?’ It was the first time Bucky had ever spoken directly to Clint. Clint stares, dumbly, trying to take in what the beautiful man was saying to him. Nobody was paying attention to Clint, which was good because he was sure he looked damn idiotic, as he stuttered out a meek ‘Sure,’ and everted his eyes. Bucky, Sam and Steve, best friends since they were all kids, lined up against the glass doors and smiled directly at Clint. It was all a little too much. Clint snapped the picture and then as Bucky moved to grab Steve’s face and plant a kiss on his cheek he snapped again. With Sam smiling happily at the side the photo was candid wonder. Lastly they all gathered as Steve shouted a staff member outside. They paired off. The newly weds in the middle with Steve wrapping his arm around Sharon pulling her in close, Nat and Sam off to one side with Nat leaning her head of Sam’s shoulder, Bucky and Clint at the other side standing awkwardly. Bucky turned to the man smiled all toothy before pulling his arm around Clint and pulling him into the photo.
***
’Ladies and Gentlemen Mr and Mrs Rogers.’ The man called after they all took their seats. The new couple and their own table at the end of the room with the rest of the wedding party at another beside them. Nat and Sam were trying to throw the candy favours into each others mouth as the starters were served. Bucky was smiling over at Steve and Sharon.
‘You know,’ Clint started before his brain could talk him out of it, ‘Sharon was really worried about meeting you.’ Bucky turned to him.
‘Why?’
‘You mean a lot to Steve.’ Clint replayed the conversation from that morning. ‘She wanted you to like her.’
‘What’s not to like?’ Bucky looked up at the waiter and smiled as he placed the food down in front of him. ‘Me and Steve had nothing growing up. Poor as shit and no ambition if I’m honest. We never let anyone in. Then Sam came along in High School and forced his way into our little friendship and then when I left to go to Europe I had to accept that a lot more people were going to be coming into our life.’
‘Steve’s great,’ Clint replied
‘Sharon too,’ Bucky smiled back. After a moment Bucky took to glancing around the room taking in all the guests and then finally Clint. ‘It’s weird to think we’re in New Jersey.’
‘Right!’
‘I’ve spent the last six month trying to convince Steve to get married in…well any other state.’ Clint laughs lightly before catching Natasha’s brutal stare from across the table.
‘I’m Clint, by the way.’ He pushed out his hand, like a normal person would, and Bucky accepted it.
‘I’m Bucky.’ Clint released his hand and tried not to think about how soft his skin was.
‘So, did your parents hate you or something?’
‘No,’ Bucky faked offence, ‘it’s a nickname.’ Clint nodded softly. ‘My middle name is Buchanan.’
‘Are you Scottish?’
‘My parents are, I was born just outside of Edinburgh, but my parents moved to Brooklyn when I was 7.’ Clint tried really hard not to imagine Bucky in a kilt. He really did try.
‘I’ve never been to Scotland before.’
‘It’s beautiful. It’s old and green and full of history. The town my parents are from is far up north and by the sea and everything smells like salt and old stone.’ Clint pulls his seat in further as Bucky get’s quiet. ‘I’ve only been back twice, but it’s my favourite place in the world.’
‘And from what I’ve heard you’ve seen a lot of it.’ Clint chimes. Bucky smiles and it lights up his entire face. He has little crinkles next to his eyes and his pale skin turns a peach pink at the cheeks.
‘Yeah, I’ve done a lot of traveling. I was a photographer for a long time and then, when I wasn’t making enough money to keep traveling I settled in Germany. It was then I realised I had picked up a lot of languages and I went to college over there and I’ve been working for the UN as a translator since I graduated.’
‘Sounds like a sweet gig.’ Bucky nods in agreement taking a sip from his glass.
‘What about you?’ He gestured to Clint with the glass; sloshing the wine about.
‘I grew up in Iowa. Moved to Brooklyn when I was 20. Sharon got me a job as her assistant at The Post and I worked my way up and now I have my own column.’ Clint knew his story wasn’t all the exciting, but Bucky leaned in a little closer. ‘It’s not the best money in the world, but I get by and Steve always gives me a little more rent if he’s had a good month.’
‘You’re the landlord,’ he says as if Clint was some sort of mythical creature. ‘I remember when Steve finally took the plunge and bought his own place all he did was complain about how incompetent the landlord was and how he was sure something illegal was going on because of how cheap the place was.’ Clint nods, that sounds like Steve. ‘Then suddenly the landlord was my new replacement.’ Bucky laughed lightly. Clint casts his eyes crowds the table to Nat who is too busy cleaning spilled soup off Sam’s tie to notice how disastrous he was being.
Later once they had finished and it was dark the crowd settled back into the white greenhouse covered in twinkling lights and delicate flowers. Sharon and Steve were dancing softly trailing across the floor and around in magnificent circles. Clint watched happily sipping something too sweet out of champagne flute as his eyes grew heavy. Nat was standing beside him swaying a little letting her eyes follow the two around the room. Sam was crying. Sam hadn’t noticed he was crying but tears slowly tickled down his cheek in the most delicate way. Clint had lost track of Bucky after the meal and was too busy trying to keep Nat from making a move to actually make a move himself.
‘Listen, as maid of honour-’ Nat mumbled as she re-applied her lipstick. Clint was sitting up on the sink swinging his legs back and forth when he interjected.
‘We are joint maid of honour.’
‘But, I’m the girl. He is statistically more likely to be straight.’ She smacked her lips together and then stared herself down before flicking her eyes to him.
‘That’s homophobic,’ Clint muttered nonchalantly.
‘I’m bi, Clint.’
‘So is everyone you’re not special.’ He jumped off the sink and turned. ‘Do you have that strawberry lip balm?’ Nat rummaged for a second before finding it in her clutch.
‘Steve’s straight,’ Nat smudged her thumb against her cupids bow. Clint watched her through the mirror while applying the lip balm carefully.
‘Probably. But, that’s not the point, Bucky could be bi or gay or pan or-’ Nat interrupts him.
‘Okay, I get it. Maybe we should just see who he gravitates towards,’ she suggested while grabbing her lip balm back.
‘What if he doesn’t gravitate towards either of us.’
‘Are you kidding me?’ Nat looked them both up and down in the mirror and then met Clint’s gaze. ‘We are the hottest people at this party.’ The two erupted into laughter.
So, Clint had been too preoccupied with Nat to really focus on Bucky, but now the first dance was over Sharon was beckoning her bridesmaids over and Steve his groomsmen. Sam automatically grabbed Nat and Nat followed dancing along to the song. Clint stood there awkwardly watching the two couples dance in sync. Suddenly a hand grasped his shoulder. Bucky turned his around smiled down at him.
‘I think this is our cue?’ Clint only nods letting Bucky take his hands and guide him onto the dance floor. Clint tries to keep his breathing steady as Bucky wraps an arm around his waist and interlinks their fingers. Definitely not straight. Clint makes a mental note to tease Nat about her statistics later. Bucky is slightly smaller than him making the stance a little awkward, but Clint is glad he took charge. If it was up to him he’d be making Bucky do the god-damn mash potato right about now. The swayed lightly; nothing too fancy. Clint thanked the gods again.
‘I lost track of you for a second.’ Clint finally spoke.
‘Well, my Ma hasn’t seen me in 6 months so she was reluctant to let me party with the cool kids.’ Bucky swung them around to avoid Sharon and Steve elegantly.
‘She’s here?’ Clint wanted to look up but Bucky was staring right at him with his beautiful grey-blue eyes.
‘She calls Steve the son she always wanted,’ he mimics, but his is tone light.
‘One that doesn’t flee the country and never call?’ Clint added. Bucky nodded as a breathy laugh escaped his lips.
‘There was never much reason to stick around if I’m honest.’
‘You got your family? Steve? It’s more than most people.’ Clint let Bucky pull him around the room and never once looked up. It felt like they were the only people in the universe.
‘I guess I was just trying to find something.’ They spun for a second and Clint let the lights blur into lines of golden string curling around the two. The music was drawing to a close, but none of them seemed to want to withdraw.
‘Did you find it?’ Bucky seemed to think for a moment while he manoeuvred them around the dance floor. His feet light and strategic.
‘Maybe. Who knows.’ He dips Clint suddenly causing the blonde to laugh as he stares up at Bucky. They lock eyes in the moment and as all the blood rushes to Clint’s head he hopes the moment will never end. The honey golden lights make Bucky’s eyes look a deep navy and his skin and lips like a sunset reflecting the all light. Bucky pulls his back up eventually and twirls them both around a couple more times before the song comes to an end. Clint goes to pull away and Bucky lets him, but keeps a hold of his hand. ‘Let’s go get a drink.’
Everyone is on the dance floor now and Clint watches the crowd while Bucky orders them a drink. Nat and Sharon are dancing together throwing their arms around each other and laughing so brightly. Sam is solo dancing in the middle of the crowd obviously having one too many drinks at dinner. Then there’s Steve dancing with this older woman, brown curly hair and soft features. She is gazing up at him as he talks his eyes following Sharon and Nat.
‘That’s my Ma.’ Bucky says passing Clint a bottle of something. He takes a sip. Oh, he had never been so happy to drink a beer in his life. Theres only so much wine and champagne a man can take. Although he will admit the Bellini’s Nat had been ordering them both all day were great. Clint turns to Bucky and smiles. ‘Y’know when I came out to her she automatically assumed me and Steve were together and when I finally broke it to her she was devastated.’
‘Of course she was Steve is like…the greatest man to ever exist. And those biceps.’ Clint giggled and so did Bucky.
‘He is. Although, he didn’t have those biceps when we were kids.’ Clint found that hard to believe. Steve was such an adult and, even thought they were the same height, always made Clint feel tiny and delicate. Steve has his shit together and the thought of him being a little kid never crossed Clint’s mind. Bucky could see the confusion fall against Clint’s face. He grabs his phone and fiddles for a second before producing a photo. In it is two boys, maybe around 14, one of them tall with a mop of dark curls on his head and beside him a tiny little blonde thing. They’re both dressed in suits and the little one’s was obviously too big. They were both smiling but there was a sickening sadness draped across the entire photo. ‘Steve took a huge growth spurt the summer after this photo was taken.’ Clint grabs the phone to look at it a little closer.
‘Why have I never seen this before.’ There was a fine laughter laced in his voice. Bucky took a long sip of his drink.
‘He’s very antsy about it all.’ He grabs the phone back and slips it into his pocket. It’s then Clint realises Bucky is very close. He is leaning his side against the bar facing Clint who’s back is against the bar.
‘It’s so strange to think that Steve used to be a little kid.’
‘He was a pain in my ass,’ Bucky rolled his eyes.
‘Really?’ Clint laughed.
‘Oh yeah, fucking…going around causing trouble, getting into fights and always trying to be the big guy. And of course I had to swoop in and save the day every single time. The amount broken noses and busted lips I got cause of that boy.’ Clint takes in Bucky’s features. Dark grey eyes and delicate cheeks. Plump lips and perfectly good nose.
‘I think you turned out alright in the end.’ Clint was flirting. Clint had never in his life been so aware of his own body, how his hands fidgeting against the bar, his foot tapping inconstantly…and why the hell did his tongue feel suddenly too big for his mouth.
‘Yeah, well, luckily after years of fighting his battles for him he got big enough to fight them himself.’ Bucky let’s his beer bottle drop onto the bar behind Clint.
‘I’m guessing you weren’t too far behind him though.’
‘Of course. He may be bigger than me now, but I still throw a good few punches. Honestly, I just think we were all relieved he grew into his nose.’ This makes Clint laugh unexpectedly giving Bucky the opportunity to lean in a little closer. When Clint catches on he freezes up a little and smiles coyly.
‘So, I have a hotel room upstairs…if that’s something you would-’ Bucky interrupts Clint’s invitation by leaning in a little closer. He looks down to Clint’s lips and then back up to his eyes.
‘I’d love to, but I have to go.’ Clint curses himself.
‘It’s okay, I get it. You don’t have to-’ Bucky puts his hand on his chest stopping Clint instantly.
‘Clint. I wanna go with you, but I really do need to go. I have a flight to catch.’ Bucky leans in a little closer and kisses Clint. It’s soft and unexpected and Clint melts into it. Bucky grips onto his tie and Clint follows willingly. He pulls off just as Steve approaches behind them.
‘If you guys are finished.’ Bucky looks down at his feet as he turns around. Clint looks up at Steve who is obviously trying really hard not to laugh. ‘You are both needed on the dance floor.’ Bucky nods as the blush spreads across his face. Steve turns and his shoulders begin to shake only slightly. Clint grabs Bucky’s hand and pulls him after Steve. Bucky’s mum is on him instantly pulling him into a hug and dancing with him. Steve and Nat are twirling around like kids and Sharon grabs Clint.
‘I see you and Bucky have become acquainted.’ There is so much mischief in her eyes its impossible for Clint to keep a straight face. They sway lightly.
‘You had to marry the man with the most beautiful best friend.’ Sharon shrugged but before she could reply Nat stumbled up and they danced in an awkward threesome. They air was misty with alcohol and happiness as he twirled Nat around with one hand and curled Sharon into his side. They giggled as they spun in graceful circles and let their arms fall around clumsily gripping onto each other. Somewhere under some table sat Nat and Sharon’s heels and now they were barely up to Clint’s shoulders. Suddenly, Sam appeared grabbing Nat’s waist from behind and dragging her backwards from the group. She spun and wrapped her arms around his neck. Sharon’s eyes went wide as she and Clint fell back into a gentle sway. ‘How are you,’ he asked softly.
‘I’m the happiest woman alive. I can’t believe we got this lucky.’ She pulled herself into Clint’s chest and Clint lay his chin on her head.
‘Yeah, neither can I.’ He looked out to all his friends looking gorgeous and happy. Steve caught his eye and smiled as he danced with Bucky. Clint places a small kiss onto Sharon's hair and pulls back as Steve takes her hand and pulls her into his chest. They fit so perfectly together. Bucky and Clint stand and watch them for a moment before Bucky sighs loudly. ‘You have to go?’
‘Taxis outside.’ Clint nods. ‘Walk me out?’ Bucky turns and walks through the crowd and pass the bar. Clint follows behind. They wander out into the cold January air and stand for a moment their cheeks red and skin hot against the chill.
‘Y’know, if you’re ever in New York?’ Clint starts.
‘I’ll look you up.’ Bucky smiles before pulling at Clint’s tie and kissing him softly.
When Clint finally makes his way back into the hall it’s filled with life and music. He weaves through the crowd letting Steve’s foghorn laughter guide him back to his friends and their dancing. He laughs a little and then allows the crowd to envelop him and before he knows it Sam is showing him how to moon-walk and all thoughts of the beautiful man with the grey-blue eyes are gone even if only for a moment.