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Steve looked down at his empty solo cup before glancing around the room. Bucky had dragged him to yet another party full of people he barely knew. After an hour of forcing smiles and laughter, Steve had let his social anxiety lead him to a couch in the corner of the room. He didn't really feel like getting up and grabbing another drink. The bar was way too crowded, with people continuously pushing against each other.
Steve realized he'd been spacing out for a bit when he found himself making eye contact with a guy looking back at him. There was a smirk on the stranger's face. His heart skipped a beat, and he smiled sheepishly over at the stranger, hoping he didn't seem to weird. The last thing he needed was to become the campus weirdo.
Steve watched as the man detached himself from the group with a smile and a laugh, and headed straight for Steve's couch. Shit. Okay, he had to act normal, now. This was fine. Steve dropped his gaze back to his solo cup and took a few steadying breaths, worrying at his lower lip.
"Have we met?"
Steve's head shot up, and he was glad the dim lighting would his his embarrassed flush
"Eh. No, I don't think so?" The guy clearly wanted him to elaborate, with how he waited a few beats, but Steve couldn't seem to get more words past his lips.
The guy just grinned, though. "Only, you were staring. So I figured we'd seen each other before. Except I don't think I've seen you in classes. Not an engineer, then?" The guy took a sip from the cup in his hand, and Steve definitely didn't stare at how his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.
"Uh, no, artist. Sorry for staring. I was just zoning out. Parties, I'm not good at them." Steve's mouth felt a little dry. This was the longest he'd talked to a person that wasn't a friend in... Well, a long time.
"So you weren't staring because you thought I was hot? Pity", the guy said, pouting a little.
Was he flirting with Steve? "Afraid not. Just good ol' brain fuzz. Not that you're not attractive, of course. Because you are-" Steve snapped his mouth shut, feeling his entire face heating up.
"I'm Tony", the other guy said, ignoring Steve's sputtering. He held out his free hand, and Steve looked down at it before shaking it.
Finally, some familiar territory. "I'm Steve. Steve Rogers."
"Well, Steve Rogers, come here often?"
Steve snorted at the cheesy pick-up line, but he felt his shoulders relax nonetheless. "More often than I can help." At Tony's raised eyebrow, he elaborated. "My pal Bucky keeps dragging me along to these parties. I don't really do crowds and noise."
"I feel that. How 'bout we step outside for a bit? I could use some fresh air. This place reeks of Axe body spray."
Steve's initial instinct was to wave off the offer, to come up with an excuse about how he couldn't leave Bucky alone. But, well, Bucky had left him alone, and he'd promised he'd try to socialise. And the guy was cute, so... He sent Tony his best attempt at a smile. "Sure."
It was snowing outside, snowflakes slowly making their way to the ground, some of them catching on Steve's hat, scarf and clothes. Tony wasn't wearing a hat, and the snowflakes seemed even whiter against his dark hair. Now that Steve took a closer look at Tony, he wasn't wearing a jacket that was appropriate for a New York winter either. "Aren't you cold?"
Tony shrugged, hands shoved in his jacket pockets, but Steve could tell he was shivering. He took off his scarf and carefully wrapped it around Tony's neck and shoulders, which brought them closer together. Tony looked up at him with wide eyes. He had snowflakes in his eyelashes, Steve noticed. The brunet's tongue darted out to wet his lips, and Steve's eyes instinctively followed the movement. He felt himself leaning closer, but slowly, giving the other man time to step away.
"Can I take you out?" Tony blurted out. "On a date. Not hitman-style. Obviously."
"I'd like that", Steve said with a soft smile, feeling his cheeks flush.
"Okay, good", Tony said, quietly. "Well. You can kiss me now, if you want to."
And so Steve did.