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“So do you think Pedro is hot, Steve?”
Steve clears his throat and turns the TV up, ignoring you.
“That's an unfair question, (y/n),” Bucky chides.
“How so?” Thor asks, not wanting to be behind pop culture for once. At least he knows who you're talking about this time.
“Well the answer is obviously yes,” Nat the Cat observes. “There's no one on earth who would think otherwise. Maybe Asgard too, according to Thor.
“And yet admitting it would seem gay,” Tony adds.
“First of all, admitting it would more likely seem bi. Or pan. But not necessarily,” Clint points out.
“It is possible to admire aesthetics regardless of sexuality, which I must say Pedro in fact is quite attractive.” Thor follows up wisely. “So I still don't see why it's unfair.”
“Can we just watch without commentary?” Bruce grumbles.
“This is your fault for choosing a show from 6 years ago,” you tease him. “We all watched it when it was airing.”
“Which is why I was watching on my own,” he counters. “I don't know how this became a group activity.”
“Because you took the last party size bag of hot Cheetos.” You shake your head while clicking your tongue. “You should know better by now, Brucie.”
“I'm the only one who puts it on the grocery list, I have the biggest right out of anyone to eat them, last bag or not!” Bruce insists.
“Adding it to our instacart is hardly ‘putting it on a grocery list,’ Tony retorts. “And that's why no one else adds it, because you already did. I'm the one who upped the quantity from 1 to 5. So really I have the biggest right to eat them.”
“You also have a TV in your own room, if you really wanted to watch alone you'd do it there. You're not fooling anyone, big guy,” Nat quips with a wink.
“I don't mind company. As long as you all keep quiet.” Bruce relents with a sigh. “Or as quiet as you can be while crunching loudly on chips.”
“You heard the man,” Steve finally pipes up. “No comments, no spoilers.”
Tony perks up. “Oh did you know episode four-”
“Shush!” You clap a hand over Tony’s mouth. “We're going to let Bruce enjoy his show with minimal commentary. And if that means we all have to agree Pedro is hot, then, that's that.”
“No arguments there,” Clint offers.
There's a general sound of approval, except Steve who's glued to the screen despite having watched this season twice already.
“You're so oblivious,” Bucky whispers as he pats your head condescendingly.
You stuff a handful of hot Cheetos in his mouth, and continue watching the show without pressing further.
“Everything ok?”
You look up from your spot on the floor with a liter of mountain dew propping your phone-holding arm up, raising a brow at Steve. “Yeah, why?”
He gestures at your posture, which is hunched over like a shrimp. “You've been gone for twenty minutes. I know this episode is a little heavy, so I thought I'd check up on you.”
“Aww, thanks.” You flash a smile at him, you love when he gets all thoughtful with you.
Not that you're special to him, that's just how he is.
You remember being secretly and embarrassingly jealous when he walked around bravely with Nat’s Victoria's Secret bag because she got ice cream on her hands and dress, and didn't want to get her stuff sticky. Not that there was anything risque in the bag, just some perfume. Nonetheless there were a few funny looks and you know Steve had been thoroughly embarrassed, but powered through it anyway. Nat totally called you out on it the next day after she saw you quietly go back to your room as soon as you got home. Everyone else figured it out shortly after, and made fun of you for it, as long as Steve was out of earshot.
As for Steve, either he hasn't noticed, or is smart enough to pretend not to know.
You've learned not to read into his actions, for the sake of your dignity, the little of it you have, anyway. But you still appreciate the sweet things he does.
“I'm fine. My mom called to tell me about this cat video she wanted to show me. Of course we ended up chatting for a while as we always do. After that, I watched it, and then the suggested video that popped up seemed really interesting. And the one after that… you get the idea.”
“Ah. The rabbit-hole thing you do when you're online.”
“Very good, Steve!” You give him a thumbs up and he colors slightly. He picks up on new concepts quickly, pop culture or not, especially if you take the time to explain it to him. You're just glad you don't have to explain fuckboy to him again. “Thanks for checking in on me. You can go back to the show now, this season is your favorite, right?”
“Actually, no. This is my least favorite season.”
You tilt your head. “Really? But you've been so focused since we started.”
“Oh, well, yeah. I guess I just, uh, forgot what happened so it was like watching it for the first time again.” He answers awkwardly.
“Ugh, you're so lucky!” You stuck your tongue out at him. “I always remember all the exciting things that happen, so I don't get a fun surprise when I rewatch it. Makes it a lot less fun, honestly.”
“And, um, how many times have you watched this show?”
You count on your fingers. “Let's see; the first time was with Nat, and then the second and third was, hmm, ok yeah, it's been four.”
“Four?!” Steve looks at you in confusion. “Do you even like rewatching shows?”
“Only comfort shows.”
“And is this one-”
“It is not.” You stand up quickly. “And there will be no follow up questions.”
“But-”
“Let's go, I think Bruce will need emotional support for this episode.”
You grab Steve's wrist and drag him back to the living room.
“It’s cute how clueless they both are.” Nat comments.
“(Y/n) asking Steve about Pedro when it's obvious that he only has eyes for her,” Bucky quips.
“Steve not realizing she's only sitting through her second, third and fourth watch to spend more time with him. She won't even watch Dexter with me and she's only seen it once,” Clint laments.
“Should we nudge them along in their courtship?” Thor wonders. Now that he's up to speed, he's excited about the prospect of matchmaking.
“No. Let them figure it out themselves, it's more fun this way,” Bruce reminds them. “Now stop talking about it before they get back.
And for the record, everyone thinks he's hot.”