"I'm a scholar and a gentleman
And I usually don't fall when I try to stand
I lost a bet to a guy in a Chiffon skirt
But I make these high heels work
I've told you time and time again
I'm not as think as you drunk I am
And we all fell down when the sun came up
I think we've had enough
Alright, alright, it's a hell of a feeling though
It's a hell of a feeling though
Alright, alright, it's a hell of a feeling though
It's a hell of a feeling though
Champagne, cocaine, gasoline
And most things in between
I roam the city in a shopping cart
A pack of camels and a smoke alarm
This night is heating up
Raise hell and turn it up
Saying "If you go out you might pass out in a drain pipe"
Oh yeah, don't threaten me with a good time"
Chapter 12
The next morning I'm surprised to have yet again woken up before by Bucky. I shower quickly in his bathroom and throw on some comfy clothes. Steve is sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee and spacing out. He smiles at me when I sit down beside him.
"Ya know when we were growing up together I'd always get so annoyed by all the girls coming out of Buckys room in the morning. It was always a different girl with no sense and I thought Buck was such a dog. Now I see you walking out here and I couldn't be happier." Steve is such a marshmallow and I love him to death.
"Well he's stuck with me now. I really love him Stevie." He looks almost happier than I do. I remember the question I need to ask him. "Where was Sharon last night?" The smile wipes from his face. He brushes a hand through his blonde hair before turning his eyes back to me.
"We…uh…we aren't seeing each other anymore. It just didn't feel right. I think I wanted the normalcy of having a relationship more than I actually wanted the relationship with her. I know that's horrible. Especially when I was so sure at first, but there just wasn't any passion there." I reach out and take my friends hand and smile reassuringly at him.
"Steve, I think it's great that you acknowledged that it didn't feel right and ended it. You're the type of guy that in the past may have just toughed it out regardless of your own happiness. I'm proud of you honestly. Was she very hurt?" He shakes his head.
"No, the feeling was mutual, and we agreed to stay friends." That's more than most people who break up can do.
"I always liked Sharon but never thought she was right for you. Now there's a certain deadly red head that I think is right up your alley though." His sky blue eyes roll and he chuckles.
"Don't even start with the whole Natasha thing again Liya. She is one of my best friends and maybe just a little out of my league." Pfft has he looked at himself? And he's one of the sweetest men I've ever met.
"When are ya gonna get it through that thick head of yours that you're Captain fucking America punk? Ain't no one out of your league." James Barnes comes waltzing our of the bedroom freshly showered with his damp hair and black v neck and dark jeans that fit so nicely I can barely handle. He leans down and presses his lips to mine before sitting in the chair beside me.
"Sounds like the Brooklyn in you is coming back full force Sarge." Bucky chuckles and nuzzles into my neck. He's such a goof ball with me sometimes.
"Don't go callin me that in front of Stevie babydoll, ya know what it does to me." He nips at my neck making me yelp. The smile on his face is smug when he pulls away.
"You two are sickening, seriously. I almost preferred the brooding to this." Bucky and I laugh at our friends playful tone. "Can I pry you away from your girl long enough to get in a decent workout? Sams coming and I know how much you love to show him up." I roll my eyes at that. I don't know what the deal is with Bucky and Sam. They are constantly trying to outdo the other, like theyre fighting for the title of Steve's best friend. But honestly you can tell they kind of like each other.
"Hell yea. I'm feeling restless anyway, gotta get rid of some of this energy. Someone wasn't in bed when I woke up so I missed out on the usual workout." Bucky winks dramatically. He could be a real cheeky guy when he wanted to.
"Uhg,I don't need to know his stuff Buck! Go change and we'll get goin." My soldier presses a kiss to my temple and heads towards the bedroom.
"I'm going to go pay a visit to my favorite Avenger. She might be even prettier than you Cap. Want me to tell her you say hi?" Steve shoots me the finger which is very unpatriotic of him. I laugh and make my way back to mine and Natasha's floor.
I'm actually nice enough to inform her that I'm coming so that she can let me in. She's dressed pretty similarly to me in yoga pants and a tank top.
"Where's the geriatric with the cybernetic arm that's usually lurking behind you?" I scoff and shake my head at her.
"He's heading down to the gym to work out with the other old man and Sammy boy" Nat is busy using the blender for some reason. "Are you making margaritas at ten a.m.?" I peek over her shoulder and she is indeed making margaritas.
"With how rarely I get a day off, hell yea I'm day drinking. You are joining me since it's the weekend." I shrug my shoulders and take the delicious tequila filled drink she offers me.
"So I think that you need to screw Stevie's brains out now that he's single and you two are obviously meant to be." I actually manage to make the black widow choke on her drink, I'm proud of myself.
"What the hell Liya? You know I don't do relationships and Rogers is so not the type to hit it and quit it." He's definitely not.
"You're not in the red room anymore Nat, you're allowed to have feelings. You had feelings for Bruce, and I know that didn't work out but Steve isn't him. Your guys's chemistry is undeniable and he'd be exactly the kind of guy your crazy ass needs." They would be adorable together.
"Steve deserves some normalcy. He deserves a wife and kids and a white picket fence and a damn golden retriever. I can't give him that." Funny that she's not saying it's because she doesn't care about him.
"Steve doesn't want normal and you know it. He'd go crazy with normal. Just think about it ok?" She just glared and rolls her eyes.
An hour and a half later and I have no idea how many margaritas we've already gone through. Needless to say we are both pretty tipsy before noon.
"What the hell are those idiots doing? They all have banging bodies so do they really need to work out for this long?" I'm laying upside down on the couch, my head handing off the cushions and my feet draped over the back.
"They spend at least an hour running, they probably haven't even been actually working out for that long. Let's go break up their party." I like the words that are coming out of her mouth even if they're slurred slightly. We both sway a little when we jump up to our feet.
Nat rarely lets herself get drunk so I'm surprised she's as wobbly as me. We laugh and stumble to the elevator. It's hard to keep our composure as we pass some employees on the lower levels. Most people are scared of Natasha and the ones who knew who I was before I became a counselor are a little intimidated by me too so they mostly stay out of the way.
We sneak as well as we can into the gym to find Steve and Bucky sparring, Sam is off to the side cheering Steve on. Both men are dressed in under armour, Steve in a great shirt and short and Bucky in black. I didn't think it was possible for either of them to sweat but they are. Maybe it's because they're pretty evenly matched. It's kind of beautiful to watch them fighting, trading punches and jabs and kicks, ducking and evading each other. Like an elaborate dance.
"Gotta say, I'm a little turned on." My voice is louder than I meant it to be and Natasha laughs uncharacteristically loud. The men stop their fighting and watch us trip over ourselves to get over to them.
"Are you guys drunk?" It's barely noon!" Sam looks amused despite his statement.
"Shh Sammy, we are celebrating a work free day." I sling my arm around Natasha's shoulder and smile brightly.
"Don't think I've ever seen ya like this doll." Bucky wipes his face with the bottom of his shirt, showing his gleaming abs for a minute.
"Have I ever told you how sexy you are babe?" Bucky smirks in that smug way of his, Steve groans, and Sam laughs loudly.
"Yea maybe once or twice. Don't ever get sick of hearin it though." I really have no impulse control right now so I walk as smoothly as possible over to that sexy man of mine and wrap my arms around his middle. "I'm a little sweaty right now sweetheart. Might wanna let me hit the shower before you go clingin to me like that." He chuckles when I tangle my hands in his damp hair and pull him down to kiss me. He doesn't protest though even when I push my tongue into his mouth.
"Really guys? Last thing I need to see is you two getting down and dirty in here." Bucky pulls away chuckling and I glare at Sam.
"Can't say I blame her. You are all looking mighty fine right now. Think it's only partly because of the tequila." The boys all laugh at Natasha's words.
"Think we need to go party with these girls. Sounds way better than getting my ass beat by you two super sadists." I'm totally down with Sammy's plan.
"Except we can't get drunk." Damnit.
"Starks got some of that Asgardian liquor. Steve got a buzz the last time we all drank together." Ooo I perk up at Natasha's words. A drunk Steve and Bucky sounds like a blast.
"I'm calling him." Bucky looks unsure as I lift my phone to my ear.
"What's up Annie?" Tony sounds like he's eating.
"I need the Asgardian shit that can get Stevie drunk. Can I please come grab it Ton?" I drag out the please dramatically.
"Are you day drinking without me? That is unacceptable. Get your asses upstairs immediately." He actually sounds offended.
"That hot ass man of mine is with me though and his presence is absolutely required Anthony. So if you're going to be a dick head I can't come get sloshed with you." He snorts at me for whatever reason.
"You're even stranger than usual when you've been drinking Dr. Feelgood. I already told you I called a truce so bring Fullmetal with you too." I'm so impressed by Tony right now.
"Wait, you watch anime? How the hell do you know who the fullmetal alchemist is?" He laughs.
"Shut up and get upstairs Annie." He hangs up before I can respond. Bucky is smiling all toothy for some reason, god he's beautiful.
"Your hot ass man huh?" I did say that didn't I?
"Yes sir. It's kinda hard to look at you without climbing you like a tree. Especially right now." I swear he blushes just a little. He runs his hand through his hair and even looks a little bashful.
"You better get upstairs with Stark before I drag you into the showers with me. Steve, bird brain, and I will meet you up there when we're done getting cleaned up." I pout a little while Sam insults Bucky for calling him bird brain.
"Cmon reaper lets go get wasted with Tony. I'll text the rest of the gang too." I let Nat drag me after her.
Tony has set out a beautiful array of alcohol in our communal living area. I plop down on one of the plush brown sofas.
"Here honey, have a screwdriver." Tony sounds chipper as he hands me the orange drink. He hands Nat a vodka cranberry.
Clint, Wanda, and Rhodey join us as well. We are all laughing and drinking together and it's pretty wonderful.
"Where's the boy toy Liya?" I lean my head on Clint's shoulder.
"Him, and Stevie, and Sammy are showering. That sounds kinda hot actually. They were working out." Clint laughs along with Wanda.
"I'm not sure how I feel about you having a boyfriend now that I have to listen to you say shit like that." Oh Clint, he's wonderful.
"I've always been a perv, long before James was in the picture." Rhodey makes weird sound.
"You have to stick to calling him Bucky or Barnes Liya, I'm James too." Oh yea I forgot about that.
The three missing men all walk off the elevator together, freshly showered and looking so good is should be illegal.
"Hey baby I was just talking about you!" Snickers all around.
"You are really something else when you've been drinkin doll." Bucky sits down beside me but it's not close enough for me so I drape myself across his lap. He doesn't seem to mind because he just wraps his arms around me tightly.
Friday's loud voice booms through the building. "Boss, there's some kind of a ship preparing to land outside the compound." The windows of the compound start to rumble. The biggest aircraft I've ever seen is indeed landing right outside.
"Holy shit."