Bucky had said not to worry about dressing up too much but still; Steve didn't want to be under dressed. He stood before basically his entire closet, which had been spread across his bed. He glanced at the clock. It was almost 7. So he grabbed his phone and called the last person he expected to be asking for fashion advice.
"Steve! What's up?" Tony sounded excited and there was loud music in the background that made him hard to hear.
"Tony, I need your help." Steve said. Almost immediately the music died down.
"Is something wrong?" Tony asked seriously and Steve gave an embarrassed laugh.
"Well, sort of. I have a date in like 20 minutes and don't know what to wear." He admitted and Tony laughed hysterically for almost a minute before he sobered up. Some.
"Well, at least it's only a date. Wait… since when does Steve Rogers have a date? Cause on Saturday you were still depressingly single." Tony questioned in shock.
"Well, I'm still single, but, since Sunday?" Steve offered. "Please focus Tony. I need to get dressed. He'll be here in less than twenty minutes." Steve pleaded.
Tony chuckled. "Okay, okay. What are you guys doing on your date?"
"As far as I know we're just having dinner. He said not to get too dressed up because it won't be anywhere that fancy." Steve informed him.
"Boring! You aren't even going to have sex afterwards? It's been years for you hasn't it?" Tony reminded and Steve blushed. He bit his lip as he debated what to say since technically the answer was 'never'. Tony thankfully continued before he had the chance. "Well, you'll just have to seduce him. Wear your nice black jeans and that blue button up you said was the same shade as that, what was it, 'Starry Night' painting? It's dark blue. Emphasizes your eyes." Tony suggested.
Steve's eyes quickly found the shirt his friend was talking about and he nodded. It was just as good as anything he was considering. "Alright. Thanks, Tony." Steve said seriously.
"You're welcome." Tony replied, also unusually seriously. Of course it didn't last long. "So, how exactly did shy little Steve Rogers get a date without my knowledge?" He sounded like a gossiping girl and Steve couldn't help but chuckle. He put his phone on speaker and set it aside before he started getting dressed.
"Well, Dr. Erskine stepped out to help with a wedding disaster. Sam had delivered the wrong flowers on accident and had his car break down on the way back. Leaving me alone to tend to the shop. A customer came in to pick up an order we couldn't fill because we haven't received our delivery for the day. He got angry and was going to punch me, but some guy in black stopped him. He scared the other man off. We talked a little bit, and he told me his name was Bucky Barnes. And in return for saving me he wanted to go on a date." Steve informed Tony as he got dressed.
"Steve." Something in Tony's voice caught Steve's attention and he picked up his phone. "Something about that feels wrong. I know you think you can take care of yourself, but what if he's HYRDA?" Tony asked.
Steve paused then let out a breath. "Well, I… I don't know. It's not like I'm involved with SHIELD or particularly displeased with HYDRA. Not any more than any other American. So even if he is HYDRA I've done nothing worth being taken or arrested for. I've got nothing to hide." Steve reminded.
"Even if he's not HYRDA he could still be a creep. Listen, I'm not going to tell you not to go, because you deserve to go on a date and maybe find someone who makes you happy. That being said, I am going to be texting you every hour and if two goes by without a response I'll call. If you don't answer I'll come to where you were. Where are you going?" Tony asked.
"I actually don't know." Steve admitted.
"Then text me the address as soon as you do." Tony ordered.
"Yes, sir." Steve replied lightly, but he appreciated Tony's concern. "But thanks. For looking out for me." He added.
"Yeah, yeah. No more sappy stuff. Go get dressed up for your date and try to enjoy yourself tonight. Don't do anything I wouldn't." Tony said.
Steve sighed, shaking his head. "And I'm certainly not going to do anything you would." Steve countered. "I'll keep you up to date on how it goes."
"See you soon, Steve! I expect a full recount once it's over, but please, don't rush to report to me tonight. I'd rather get the juicy details of how good or bad this Bucky Barnes is in bed. Bye!" Tony hung up before Steve could reply. Steve looked at his phone for a moment, then realized it was 6:45. He tossed his phone aside and hurried into the bathroom.
His hair was combed neatly and he was patting his pockets, making sure he had his phone, wallet, keys, and inhaler when someone knocked on the door and he jumped. He took a breath then opened the door. It was Bucky, of course, and he looked good. The dark marks around his eyes were gone, his hair was combed and pulled back (no cap this time), and while he still wore all black it looked nicer. More expensive and better fitting. It suited him and Steve didn't think many people could pull off that look.
His eyes looked Steve up and down and he licked his lip seductively. "You look good." He greeted and Steve blushed.
"Thanks. You look good too." He answered, getting a smile in return. Apparently Bucky wasn't bothered by his embarrassment and offered a box.
"This is for you." He said. Steve stepped closer and took it. It was chocolates. "I would have brought flowers but I figured you see enough of them at work." He explained and Steve chuckled before offering him a smile.
"Thank you very much." He quickly set them down on the counter and noticed Bucky looking around his apartment. The action felt practiced, like he was used to analyzing unfamiliar places quickly. To what end, Steve couldn't say and he wasn't sure he wanted to know. All he could think of was Tony's warning about Bucky potentially being HYDRA.
"Shall we?" Bucky offered his arm almost as soon as Steve had set down the box and turned towards him. Steve quickly joined him outside the door. He locked it then took Bucky's arm.
"Lead the way." Steve declared and Bucky chuckled as he did just that. They walked in silence until they left Steve's apartment building and reached the parking lot. All the usual cars were there, but there was also a new motorcycle parked right near the stairway.
Bucky noticed him looking at it. "I hope you don't mind riding. I almost never use a car." Bucky explained as he led the way over to it.
"Oh, um, I've never…" Steve stumbled and Bucky looked at him.
"You've never ridden?" Bucky offered and Steve nodded. "Don't worry. I'm a good driver." Bucky assured softly before he pulled away from Steve. He picked up a helmet and gave it to Steve. Steve took it and put it on, surprised when it fit because Bucky's head was certainly larger than his. It was when Bucky mounted the bicycle without a helmet that Steve got concerned.
"You don't have a helmet?" He asked and Bucky shook his head.
"I'll be fine, promise. Get on." He encouraged. Steve hesitated for a moment then mounted the bike behind Bucky. "Hold on tight." He ordered as the bike rumbled to life. Almost immediately he took off, leaving the parking lot far faster than Steve thought was safe. But all he could do was cling to Bucky's waist as the man drove them through town.
They wove around cars and Steve was sure they were going faster than the speed limit but Bucky never so much as tensed. As they went Steve felt himself relaxing against Bucky's back, taking comfort from his driver's casually confidence. Finally they reached a restaurant, what appeared to be a family owned bar and grill. Steve had never been and it didn't look super busy, but he was interested.
"You like burgers, I assume?" Bucky asked after parking. Steve quickly got off as he nodded.
"Yes." He agreed and Bucky smiled. He reached out and unclipped Steve's helmet. He didn't even look as he set it aside. Bucky's right hand came up and he ran his fingers through Steve's hair, messing it up. That was when Steve realized the man was only wearing one glove, over his left hand, since the right was the one messing with his hair.
"Combing it back doesn't do you justice." He said with a wink before he offered his arm. Steve accepted it and Bucky was leading them inside before Steve could even fully register what had happened. Bucky was an overwhelming force, Steve was realizing, and more often than not he was getting swept up in the brunet's rhythm. Whether he liked it or not, Steve had yet to decide.
There wasn't a hostess and Bucky led Steve over to a small table in the corner. Bucky pulled out the chair for him, so Steve sat in the offered spot. He wasn't entirely comfortable with the way his back was exposed to basically the whole room but he couldn't bother about it too much, especially with the way Bucky was looking at him as he claimed the seat opposite.
"So, I guess we should order." Steve offered cautiously and Bucky nodded.
"I already know what I want, but take however long you need to decide." Bucky assured and Steve nodded. He looked at the menu; it was only one page, front to back, but had a decent variety of burgers to choose from. "Did you want anything to drink?" Bucky asked.
"Just water." Steve answered and Bucky stood.
"I'll be right back." Bucky assured as he walked over to the counter. Steve took a moment to check his phone and, seeing he had a text from Tony, quickly sent his friend a reply. So far so good. Here's my location. Talk to you later. He had just put his phone away when Bucky returned to his seat, setting a glass of water in front of Steve and kept a glass tumbler of something clear for himself.