"I told you I'm not doing it, man."
"You're the one who picked dare!"
"Yeah, thinking you wouldn't say some dumb ass dare like 'kiss the most attractive person in the room'!"
Sam Wilson and Clint Barton's fight was going unnoticed by the other guest roaming around the Avengers Tower though it probably had something to do with the music blasting through the speakers. Every few months or so, Tony Stark would get this idea to throw a party for the team and any friends of the Avengers. While the first one had started as a few cases of beer and a large order of pizzas, the parties had grown into full blown events with catering, a DJ, festival lights, and an ungodly amount of alcohol.
Many on the team would count down to the day that they could get plastered on somebody else's dime or dance around with friends and coworkers. Somehow, Sam and Clint always found themselves at the same spot at the bar.
At times they were accompanied by others: T'Challa, Bruce, Carol at one point. Natasha always started her night with them but was gone by the time the music started. Bucky was probably the next staple in their little group but even now he was chatting with T'Challa not too far away, seemingly discussing the new vibranium arm from the amount of times the two of them had spent examining it.
It was an odd duo, too, seeing as the Clint and Sam were rarely on missions with one another or spent any time together outside of work. But over their love for whiskey, they had gotten to know each other and looked forward to these nights which usually evolved into a series of stupid drinking games.
"It's not a dumb question."
Never anything this stupid, though.
Sam took a long sip of his drink before continuing, "You do realize most of the people in this room are our co-workers and that going up and kissing them might not help in creating a safe work environment."
"I bet you Natasha would find it funny." Clint offered.
"I bet you Natasha would find it so funny she'd put a knife through my chest."
They must have been talking louder than they thought because suddenly Natasha appeared between the two of them. She looked great as ever though her hair seemed tousled from the dancing.
"You called."
"Sam won't do the dare I gave him." Clint whined before finishing off his glass.
"Truth or Dare?" There was a clear look of judgement on her face, "What are you? Fifteen?"
"Liked you've never played as an adult!"
Sam was about to step in to defend Natasha when something caught his eye. As the flashing lights shifted colors and the current song faded into a new pop top charter, Sam saw Bucky nodding goodbye to T'Challa who seemed to disappear into the crowd while the super soldier headed towards the bar.
"… that was one time and we were both black out drunk! Plus, I thought we agreed to never speak of it again."
Sam turned back to the two assassins, "Can I transfer my dare?"
Natasha gave him an odd look, realizing ('and probably for the best,' Sam noted) that he hadn't been listening at all.
Clint simply looked happy that someone was going to kiss somebody, "I have to approve, though."
"Bucky."
"Ooo," Natasha glanced over to where he was seated, "That's good!"
"And he's not an official Avenger!" Sam explained, "So, no weird work place protocols or awkwardness."
"Fine by me!" Clint turned and gave a loud whistle which turned many heads their way but did the trick in catching the soldiers attention. Realizing the group was calling him over, Bucky picked up his refilled glass and headed their way.
The first thought that came to Sam's head was whether Bucky would understand the game or want to play. It had been some time since the Winter Soldier had been deprogramed from his system but he still wasn't fully caught up in the world and all of its social nuances.
However, thought number one was easily smothered by thought number two which was finding out who in their group Bucky thought was attractive. Sam had on many occasions tried to play the role of wingman but Bucky would just not have it, giving lots of excuses. Most of them were dumb and about how he was cursed with being too hot for his real age (His words, not Sam's). Knowing who he liked would be a great starting point for putting the old man back on his game (Sam had never seen said game but had heard plenty about it from Steve).
So he kept his mouth shut.
"Barnes!"
Clint drunkly draped an arm over the other mans shoulders, bringing him down a bit due to their difference in height.
"We're playing a game and we need your help."
Bucky nodded innocently which only made Sam a little guilty about what was coming next.
"We dare you to kiss the most attractive person in the room."
The three Avengers were surprised when he immediately responded, "What do I get if I do?"
"How about a shot of vodka on me?" Sam improvised.
"I'm not an idiot, Wilson." Bucky scoffed, "The drinks here are free."
"Truthfully, you get nothing." Natasha leveled, "But, we'll all take that vodka shot with you, if that helps."
Bucky sighed. "You guys are weird, you know that?" And then immediately ordered a round of shots.
Minutes later, four glasses were in the air as the group cheered, 'To Bucky!' before downing the drinks in one swift motion. Natasha and Bucky drank without so much as a flinch while Sam had to smack Clint a few times in the back to stop him from choking.
Once it seemed like Clint would live to see another day, Sam leaned back against the bar, "So, Buck, who's this lucky-"
And suddenly James Buchanan Barnes was kissing him.
It wasn't passionate but it didn't lack emotion either. If Sam was being completely honest, it was really warm and pleasant and Bucky knew exactly was he was doing.
What surprised Sam the most was how he almost immediately kissed back. And how his hands had ended up on Bucky's back, he had no idea.
As soon as it started it was over. Bucky pulled away with an accomplished smile on his face which Sam found extremely hard to concentrate on with Clint and Natasha's looks of shock over each of Bucky's shoulders.
There was a quick pat on Sam's shoulder with the metal arm before the super soldier turned around and walked off as if nothing odd had just occurred.
"Thanks for the shot, weirdos!"
The three stunned Avengers stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity before, finally, Natasha spoke up, tentatively.
"Are you going after him?"
That seemed to break the trance as Sam shook his head for a moment, reaffirming where he was and what had just happened. He looked into the crowd which seemed to be absent of a former assassin with a deadly metal arm who had just kissed Sam. By choice.
"I, uh, I got to go." Sam mumbled, "I'll catch you later."
Watching him push through the crowd, Clint and Natasha sipped on their drinks with smiles on their faces.
"Well, this has been the best party yet!"