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“What do you mean Bob's never had a birthday party?”
“Exactly that,” Ava insisted. “Never.”
“Well we need to fix that?”
And you did. With a kid's birthday party, more specifically.
Party food, bouncy pop music and games.
Alexei was manning the playlist during musical chairs. It was down to three - you, Bucky and Walker.
“Get ready, boys,” you grinned, positioning yourself like a Quarterback, knees bent, feet wide.
You needed to take Bucky out. Or more realistically, you needed John to take him out for you.
You could see Alexei itching to hit pause, John side-eying Bucky…
Then the music stopped, John threw himself into the nearest chair, shoving Bucky out of the way, you launched into the space between them…
And straight onto Bucky's lap.
You'd moved so fast, you nearly fell right over him, but an arm caught your waist and held you tightly.
“Not this time, sweetheart,” he laughed easily.
You scrambled off, but not before you caught the flicker of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
John won, to Bucky's obvious frustration.
“Don’t pout, Barnes,” Yelena smirked. “You’ve still got a chance at glory. Time for the team games!”
“Oh god,” Ava muttered.
“I am judge, jury, and executioner!” Alexei bellowed proudly, dragging balloons out of a trash bag.
Yelena pointed decisively. “You’re with Barnes, Ava, and Walker. Bob - stick with me.”
“You’re goin’ down, Starr,” you grinned.
“Don’t get cocky, Walker,” Bucky added, rolling his shoulders. “You’ll choke before round two.”
He smirked in return, “I'm already sittin’ on a win, Buck, you're girlfriend is gonna be drying your tears later.”
“Kiss my ass, Walker!” You threw your middle finger up in his direction.
You lined up as Yelena barked the rules: balloons, then Pictionary, then a scavenger hunt. First team to finish all three rounds wins.
“Rule is no hands or weapons,” Yelena declared. “Use anything else. Go!”
The room exploded into chaos. Walker immediately tried to body slam a balloon, missing completely and sprawling flat on his face. Ava howled with laughter.
“You're on my team!” He yelled, his pride wounded.
“It's MY team, actually!”
“That's why you're not gonna win, Walker - so selfish!” You cried with glee.
You trapped one between your back and the wall - only for Bucky to step in close, pinning you flat with his entire frame. His forearm braced above your head, his chest flush against yours, his breath hot at your temple.
Pop.
“Yeah John, gotta be a team player,” he added wickedly.
Your competitive streak won out, you had no time to think about his body bumping into yours, you lunged for another, pinning it between your stomach and the floor.
Across the room Yelena and Bob both bounced on balloons like rodeo champions.
His voice was in your ear again, his body sprawled over yours. “C’mon, sweetheart. You gonna move, or you want me to do all the work?”
Your pulse was racing faster than the game warranted.
“Keep going,” he murmured low, just for you. “I’ve got plenty of ideas how to break the rest.”
Pop.
With none left, you ran for the first of three huge sheets of paper hastily taped to the window. Alexei handed you a card.
You sketched furiously - what was meant to be a car ended up looking like a toaster on wheels.
Bucky leaned over your shoulder, so close you could feel the warmth of him crowding in. “That’s - uh - a TV? No? A tank? …Sweetheart, I don’t know what the hell that is.”
Your laugh broke out too loud, nerves spilling over. “It’s a car, Barnes. A car!”
“You sure?” His mouth brushed your ear as he murmured, “Looks like a bed to me.”
Your hand faltered. Heat rushed straight to your cheeks.
“Your turn,” you shoved the marker at him.
You hovered at his side. His drawing was rough, and yet you knew instantly.
“Spider,” you blurted.
He glanced at you, satisfied. “Not bad.”
“Not bad? That was one second!”
“What's next?” He looked to Alexei who passed you a piece of paper with a list of items.
-
twenty dollars
-
a sock
-
the third book from three different series
-
handcuffs
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a blue rubber band
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something pink
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a blindfold
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a knife
You scanned the list, already throwing your pocket knife into your designated pile. Bucky had added a twenty dollar bill and was pulling off a sock.
“I've got handcuffs -”
“I've got a blindfold -”
You both spoke in unison, blinked at each other, then grinned.
“Of course you do,” you said, arching a brow. “You get them, I'll get the blindfold, which isn’t nearly as interesting as you’re imagining.”
He grinned. “We’ll see about that.”
“Move, you two!” Yelena hollered from across the room. “We’re already halfway done!”
“Shit -” You ran for the hallway with him right behind you. “Get books!”
You reconvened, bumping into him as you skidded out of your room.
“I got a blue rubber band,” he huffed.
You skimmed the list, adding your items to the collection.
“Something pink,” he muttered, his eyes flicking around the room, searching.
Your heart lurched. There was nothing in sight.
Then you gasped, triumphant. Hooking your thumbs under your top, you slipped your bra down your arms in one smooth motion, tugged it free through one sleeve, and dropped the scrap of pink lace into his hand.
His jaw flexed, eyes darkening as his fingers curled around the fabric, warm from your body.
“Pink,” you said, breathless with victory. “Told you we’d win.”
Behind you, Walker let out a bark of shocked laughter. Yelena whistled.
But all you could feel was the heat in Bucky’s gaze, the way his thumb stroked once over the delicate strap before tossing it onto the pile.
“Winner, winner chicken dinner!” Alexei shouted.
Bucky leaned in, for only you to hear. “That’s one hell of a way to win a game, doll.”
You smirked victoriously. “I don’t hear you complaining.”