Chapter Text
“You have all the ingredients you want?”
Bucky sighed, nodding their head. “Yes Steve.”
“You know what you’re cooking?”
“Yes Steve.” Bucky narrowed their eyes at Steve. “Why are you doing this?”
“What, making sure that my best friend has the best date ever?” Steve shrugged, putting his hands on the table. “I’m sorry for wanting to make sure you have a great time.”
“Don’t do that Steve.”
“Do what?”
“The ‘I’m sorry for caring’ thing,” Bucky held up their hand when Steve opened his mouth to talk. “I’m good. Really . Stop worrying.”
Steve held up his hands. “I’m not trying to be trouble.”
“You’re always trouble.”
“Oh ha ha. Anyways, I don’t really know Clint. I just want what is best for you.”
Bucky smiled, finally knowing what was wrong with Steve. “You have nothing to worry about Steve. Clint’s great.”
“How would I know? I’ve met him once, and the two of you spent the whole time talking to each other.”
“That was before we were dating. This is different.”
It was different. Having the label on it was… different, was the only way Bucky could describe it. We haven’t changed, not really. We just hold hands a lot more.
“Earth to Barnes, you’re doing that thing again.”
Bucky narrowed their eyes at Steve, who was waving his hand in front of Bucky’s face. “What thing?”
“The thing where you start thinking about something else and zone out to everyone around you.” Steve shook his head. “I offered you a cup of tea, but you didn’t hear me.”
“You didn’t offer me a cup of tea. You hate tea.”
“And you love it. And I know if you don’t respond, you really are somewhere else.”
Before Bucky could figure out how to answer, there was a knock on the door.
Like the mature adults they were, Steve and Bucky stood up and walked over to the door calmly.
Calmly. Ha.
We’re not adults, never will be. We fought our way to the door; I wanted to be the one who opened it, and so did Steve.
In the end, Steve won out, pushing Bucky aside with a well-timed push.
“Clint! Welcome!”
“Uh, hi?” Clint looked very nervous to Bucky. He looks like he’s about to faint.
“Give him some space Steve,” Bucky stepped forward to push Steve out of the way. “Hi Clint.”
“Hey Bucky.”
Steve looked between the pair, before shaking his head. “Alright, alright, I’ll get out of your hair. Don’t get up to any mischief while I’m out.”
Bucky watched Steve leave, before waving Clint in. “Come on, no need to stand out in the hallway.”
“Thanks. Is Steve okay?”
“What makes you ask?”
“He seemed out of breath when he opened the door?”
Bucky laughed, leading Clint to the kitchen. “He raced me to the door.”
“Uh, why?”
“Because he’s Steve?” Bucky shrugged, offering Clint an apologetic expression. “It’s how he is.”
“Sounds like an interesting person.” Clint stood in the middle of the kitchen, hands on his hips and looking around. “This is impressive.”
“What, did you think I was lying?” Bucky was proud of the kitchen, okay? When they and Steve were tossing up between two apartments, Bucky successfully argued for this one, on the basis of this kitchen.
( “Come on Steve, you know we need a good kitchen.”
“But why?”
“Because then we can save money by cooking at home.”
“But you don’t cook.”
“I’m gonna learn.” )
And lean they did. Bucky was proud of the skills they had acquired since moving into this apartment, thank you for asking.
“Not lying per se,” Clint said, looking back at Bucky. “But over exaggerating? I thought that was a sure bet. So, what is the plan for this evening? You were very secretive over the phone.”
Bucky nodded, moving to rummage in the fridge. “I have a plan, yes.”
“Do you need a hand?”
Bucky stood up, arm full of food, and turned around, raising an eyebrow at Clint. “A hand? Really?”
Clint’s eyes went wide, and his hand flew to his forehead. “I am so, so sorry. I can’t believe I said that!”
Bucky very calmly took the food over to the bench top, putting down the food, before looking back at Clint.
“I really am-” Clint began apologising again, when Bucky burst out laughing. Clint’s apologetic expression turned confused. “What?”
Bucky waved Clint off, shaking their head. “I’m glad.”
“That I made fun of you?”
Bucky stopped laughing, and moved closer to Clint. “You didn’t make fun of me. You treated me like a person; you wouldn’t believe the amount of people who make a huge deal about ignoring the arm.”
“So you’re not upset at me?”
“Not a chance.” Bucky smiled at Clint, hoping to brighten the mood. “Want to cook a meal?”
“You want me to cook a meal?” Clint shook his head. “No way. I burn water.”
“You can’t burn water Clint.”
“I have.” Clint shook his head, looking like he was reliving a memory. “I have.”
“Well then,” Bucky smiled wide, hoping to bring Clint out of whatever memory he was in. “I suppose it’s a good thing that we’re not using water.”
“We’re not?”
Bucky shook their head. “Not really. Can I get you to begin by washing the vegetables? I mean,” Bucky faced Clint, a smile on their face. “Can I trust you to wash the vegetables?”
“Oh ha ha,” Clint mock-laughed, but moved to begin washing the vegetables while Bucky finished getting all the ingredients and utensils required. “So why are we cooking?”
“You don’t like it?”
“No, I do. Just seems out of the ordinary, is all.”
“You’ll see.”
~
Two hours later, Clint and Bucky had prepared, cooked, and shared a delicious lasagne, complete with homemade garlic bread. And for dessert, a classic: ice cream.
“Okay, I gotta admit.” Clint looked over at Bucky, helping to dry the dishes. “This was a pretty good evening.”
“Why thank you for that review,” Bucky grinned, looking up from the dishes they were washing. “Not mad that you’re doing dishes?”
Clint shook his head. “Nah. You did do most of the cooking.”
“And you didn’t burn the water.”
“Yeah, who would have thought? Kate’ll never believe it; I don’t believe it.”
“I believe it,” Bucky said, before looking back down at the dishes. “I knew you wouldn’t mess up.”
Clint put down the plate in his hand, and reached over to hold Bucky’s shoulder. He waited for Bucky to look up before speaking. “Thank you. For everything.”
Bucky knew that there was something that Clint wasn’t saying, something about the way he said those four words that went beyond their surface meaning.
But tonight is not the night for dissecting words.
Instead, Bucky smiled, and reached up with their soap-covered hand and covered Clint’s. “You’re welcome.”
Clint’s face screwed up in an absolutely adorable expression, before he pulled his hand away and shook it dry. “Thanks for that . Could’ve done without it.”
Bucky considered Clint for a moment, before shaking their head. “Nah, suits you.”
Clint poked his tongue out in response.
~
“So, how was the date?”
Bucky glared at Steve as he entered the room. “You ask that as you literally walk through the door. Not even any preamble?”
Steve shook his head, dropping down onto the couch beside Bucky. “Nope. So?”
Bucky sighed, dropping their head back onto the lounge. “It was great. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Kitchen looks clean.”
“Point?”
“Weren’t you cooking?”
Bucky sat up, giving Steve a Look. “See, people who cook usually clean up after themselves. Might be something you want to try some day.”
Steve laughed, shaking his head as he stood up. “Maybe. Want a drink?”
“Water, thanks.”
Steve doesn’t need to know how fantastic the date was. That’s between me and Clint. And if tonight was any indication, there’ll be plenty more to come.