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The Gambler

Hermione sat quietly glancing at her cards, flicking looks to all those around her. Tony was speaking non-stop since his hand was dealt. Yes, she reasoned, he was bluffing. Next was Phil, who, like her, wasn't speaking. He may have called once, but the bet had been on the low side. Something told her that if he were pushed, he would fold. Meaning he had a decent hand, but nothing to write home about. Natasha was in the next chair. The woman was a difficult read to say the least. Yes, she had tells, but they were such tiny micro-expressions that one really had to be looking straight at her face to know what they were.

Steve was the last player. He was the easiest to read out of them all. At one-point Bucky told him that he would make for a better dealer than a player. He didn't take that well at all. He was only holding low numbered cards, something that was pointed out by Tony when Steve had tried bluffing for all the good it did. He managed to turn redder than she ever did when lying.

"Well, what's the word, hummingbird?" Tony asked her.

"I'll call and raise ten," she responded, tossing her chips into the pot.

"That's too rich for me," Phil answered, putting his cards aside. "Anybody want anything while I'm up?"

"Can you please get me club soda over ice?" Hermione asked him.

"Certainly," he replied. "Anyone else?"

"I'm good," came from several there.

"I'll see your raise and bump it up by one million," Tony told her.

"Stark," Bucky growled.

"Calm down," Hermione said softly. "He's bluffing."

"How do you know?" Tony asked her.

"The same way we know how Steve is holding a seven and a three," she replied. "I'll see your million, Stark."

He snorted at that even as Steve was looking at them both puzzled.

"Did you two count cards?" he asked, looking at them with suspicion clear on his face.

Hermione winced at that, saying, "Everyone here with the exception of you is counting cards. Sorry."

Steve looked to Nat, who shrugged and said, "It's what we do."

"You don't have the cash to back that bet," Tony told her.

"Yes, I do, but that's beside the point. You don't have the cards to win."

"Where did you get a million dollars?" Tony demanded.

"My savings account," she replied. "And what's not there, I can make easily enough." She held up her hand, adding, "I don't mean counterfeiting, you bum."

Several there were laughing, as the game went on. Hermione won that hand and ended up leaving the game about an hour thereafter. It wasn't until Hermione and Bucky were on the lift on the way to their floor that he asked anything of her.

"You have a lot of money?"

"During the blood war I was in I learned that money was power and that a lot of it could leverage things in your favor frequently. So when the trouble started with the Accords, I became determined to earn as much money as possible to help protect others and myself." Smiling, she leaned her head against his shoulder. "I overdid it, of course. But since things have calmed, I've taken to donating to different charities around the world. Only after I check them, of course."

"Of course," he murmured, wrapping an arm around her and kissing her head. "You're a good woman, Mrs. Barnes."

"I try, Mr. Barnes."

"That being said, you stink at bluffing," he told her with a chuckle.

"I know, but I was able to get away with it with those playing and isn't that what matters?" she asked, as she was smiling up into his eyes.

Leaning down with a full devilish smile on his face, he said, "I can't argue with the truth, sweetheart."

TBC…

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There you go! I hope you liked it. Take care and I hope that you're all remaining awesome.