I Understood that Reference

"Wow" seemed to be the appropriate response… In fact, Steve was pretty sure it was the only response. How else could you describe the palace that was Stark Tower?

It loomed over the city and pooled into the clouds like some sort of benevolent guardian. Stacks and stacks of steel on glass on steel. The whole thing was frozen in the earth: blue and gold all over.

It was impressive to say the least.

"Who'd you kill to get an invitation to this place?"

"Shut up, Steve," Bucky muttered, eyeing the tower like it was a cobra about to strike. "Stark sells the army weapons. And I'm the only one they could sucker into going to this thing. Don't want to offend the guy with the big toys…" He said the last part bitterly. If it were possible for a full grown man in a fully decorated uniform to look like the child, Bucky achieved it.

"That bad?"

"You know how you always tell me not to believe the press?"

"Yeah."

"You'll make an exception when you meet this guy."

With a sigh of a man about to go into battle he stumbled out of the car. Steve followed, just a tad more graceful.

Leaving his apartment, he'd felt confident in his midnight blue button down and dress pants. But now, as they were swallowed by the living, breathing mass filling Stark's door, he felt creepily naked. The woman's jewelry rang like bells and their bird chirps filled his ears with shrill notes and piercing laughs. The men were worse. They stunk of perfumes and gold and quietly wagged their tails at their wives and then growled when their backs were turned. Every single one of them were dressed like royalty, with thick silk tuxedos and jeweled skirts.

"Hey, Barnes." Steve almost jumped out of his skin at the smooth voice tickling his ear. What he did manage however, was a very masculine and dignified squeak. By the time he turned around the woman was laughing her ass off. "Sorry," she said, "I didn't mean to spook your friend there."

"Its fine," Bucky, chuckling himself, "He scares easy. Comes with the extra-small pants and child shoes."

"Shut up."

"Aww don't be that way."

"You're such a child," he muttered, shaking a pouting Bucky off his arm. But a smile managed to sneak its way onto his face anyway. He could never stay angry.

"Steve Rogers this is Jane Foster. She's my…err…"

"Ex?" Jane offered, extending her hand forward. He took it with a warm grin. She did seem Bucky's type. She was well-built, her thin yellow dress fitting snugly in all the right places. Her hair, dark and streaked with honey highlights curled around her shoulders like a smooth, silk waterfall. And yet there was that intelligent glint in her eyes, the clever curl of her lips that his friend couldn't seem to live without. For some reason Bucky loved them smart.

"We, err, dated for a month or so, nothing serious."

"Careful there. You might actually hurt my feelings- Oh. Right!" Jane grasped at the stranger joining them, a broad grin splitting her face into two.

Steve had always been tiny and he was used to being dwarfed, but this man… this man made him feel like an ant. His muscles bulged underneath his shirt, buttons clinging for dear life in a failed attempt to cover his handsomely sculpted chest. Long blonde hair was swept into a clean ponytail and stubble still graced his strong jaw. "Boys, this is Thor."

Steve had a problem. He couldn't get drunk. He was nursing his eighth glass of the night and he felt fine. Better than fine actually… He was great. The world was clear, he was awake and the lingering hangover from the night before had completely evaporated. Which was all fine and dandy. Except he couldn't get completely wasted. What was the point of coming to these parties if he couldn't enjoy the wine worth ten grand and the fifty year old scotch?

Bucky didn't seem to be having a problem with it. At that moment he was practically swinging off of Thor's arm, the two giggling like school girls. They'd started a drinking contest not ten minutes ago and had drawn quite a crowd. Jane's new "boy toy," as he'd heard the (jealous) party goers whispering, seemed to have a talent for putting away whiskey. A talent that rivaled Bucky's.

He couldn't help but watch them with envy. Always the lightweight, he should've been dizzy and warm by his first drink. But he felt fine.

"Not enjoying the party?"

"Hm?" He jolted, training his eyes away from his (defective) drink and back to the party. Before him was a man just a foot taller than himself. Dressed in an expensive suit, he wore it carelessly, tie loose and collar popped up. Though his thick black air was frosted with greys there was a youthful twinkle in his eyes that screamed of mischief. "Hi. You know who I am."

He snorted. At least Tony Stark didn't fake modesty. "Steve Rogers. I'm with James Barnes."

"The military's sacrifice?"

"Yessir."

"Not a fan of games?"

"Games? Oh! The drinking thing? No, I just know how it's going to end. It looks like Thor's got some skills."

"Thor?"

"Jane Foster's date? He's visiting from Europe I think…"

"Well, those Europeans know their liquor," Tony muttered, hoisting himself onto a bar stool. "What about you? You're looking at that glass like it's offended you."

Steve shrugged, tossing his drink back on the table. "Not a big drinker."

"Pity. It's good alcohol." He raised his own glass as if to prove it, downing the entire thing in one big gulp. Steve nodded politely, not really sure how to answer. He settled on attempting to stifle a yawn instead, desperately trying to hide it in the crook of his arm. Great, now he's going to think I'm rude…

"Rough night last night or something? It's too early to be yawning. And I now it's not my fault. I'm great company."

"Err yeah…" Well I can't tell him about the drinking now! "Just weird dreams I guess. I blame the weather. It's been horrible hasn't it? I hate winter."

"Dreams? Huh, weird. I had one myself last night. It was great."

He smiled at the host, nodding for him to go on. Just as long as he wasn't doing the talking he was happy. He wasn't really sure how to go on with the conversation. He felt like he should treat Tony either extremely coldly or extremely respectfully. The rumors he'd heard about the man were outstanding. To put it kindly he was a billionaire playboy spoiled brat. His money went towards nothing but his own company, his bad habits, and his woman. But they were in his home and at his party. And Steve felt like it was difficult to remember all that when the man was right in front of him, treating him not only with kindness but weirdly like an old friend. And besides, he couldn't help but instantly like Tony. It was almost like they'd known each other for years instead of minutes.

"Alright I was in the middle of this forest. Pitch black. Like, can't see your hand in front of your face black. And it wasn't raining or anything, but there was all this lightning. Every three seconds. And there was gunshots and screaming. It was pretty freaky. Oh! And the best part. Ok this red smoke was everywhere- …Hey, are you alright?"

Steve didn't feel alright. At all. In fact he felt quite sick.

"Hello? Rogers? Your face has gone white."

"Did you black out after the, err, the red smoke got to you?"

Yeah… How'd you know?"

"I had that dream too."

Thanks to Ravena16 and Lilac Winters21 I'm going to continue this story Please review to let me know your thoughts!