Chapter Text
"You're going to love him," Sam says. He drapes his arms over Steve's slight shoulders and has a smile so wide it put the sun to shame. Steve goes with the situation, nods at the appropriate places, lets himself be pulled about. Hell, he even let himself be all hooked up on a blind date - a blind meeting. "I know you're just getting into the commenting thing with our team and he's a new guy, but Bucky is just your type and nice about it."
"It disturbs me that you know my type," Steve says in a mumble that is lost to the dull roar of the party. Sam pulls him into the quasi mosh pit of parties at the Stark Dorm. Officially it is the Technological Institution A Dorm. Everyone Steve knows refuse to acknowledge the name. Too long, too boring. "You said it's Bucky?"
"Of course it's Bucky, man. We've all seen you go googley eyed at him."
Steve frowns. "That disturbs me even more."
"Shock and surprise."
Sam's arm tightens. Steve tries not to fidget and fails miserably. He pulls at the plaid shirt he somehow thought to be flattering and shoves his other hand into his pocket. Nerves and giddy anticipation tighten his throat and numb his lungs, and that means nothing in the wake of a set up with the newest Freshman player.
"James is over here," Natasha appears beside Sam with a laughing redhead at her side. She wraps her arm around the girls waist and squeezes. THe other touches Steves shoulder just once, gently. "Pepper found him by the drinks."
Sam turns Steve around and pulls him towards the brightly lit bar. Natasha trails behind and speaks to the redhead in a soft voice. Steve scans the mash of bodies pouring drinks and laughing, most of them athletes of all genders with arms that can crush Steve like a twig. (It really should not be as much of a turnon as it is.)
Bucky isn't at the bar anymore. He has a drink in one hand and a fistful of hair in the other. He's talking low to the man the hair belongs to, an easy smile on his face and an arch to his eyebrows. His date (hookup?) laughs at something and grabs Bucky's thigh.
"Oh," says Steve. He digs his heels into the carpet and looks up to Sam. "He's busy."
"Barton." Natasha sighs the name. Steve shrugs and hunches his shoulders. It lasts only a moment because familiar disappointment is a friend he's made peace with.
"Sorry, Steve."
"Don't worry, Sam. It's fine. He's nice to look at is all, it's not like I've pined." Bucky looks over his shoulder to them and grins wider. The dark haired man winks in easy conspiracy with Sam and goes back to his conversation with Barton.
Sam apologizes again. It's the first time Steve meets Bucky.