A/N: I wrote this one quickly to fill in a gap between last chapter and the next that I realized I had left. It may be slightly disjointed as a result.
He never gets the chance to follow through on his promise to get Steve good and drunk. Steve's barely touched the one beer he's ordered so far when Carter shows up again, with her usual unhelpful timing, and gives Steve someplace to be at the asscrack of dawn. She barely even glances in Bucky's direction and he gets the distinct impression that he's unwelcome. Still, he'll be damned if he's going to let anyone else push him around, especially Carter, so he stubbornly sticks close and flirts obnoxiously just to goad her. Carter ignores him completely... which doesn't surprise him as much as it might've if he hadn't spectacularly pissed her off a few weeks back. He can't say the feeling isn't mutual but… that dress really is criminal. Steve certainly picked up a looker, even if she is a terror. If not for her gift for making Bucky incredibly uneasy, he'd be standing at attention all right.
He can't quite decide if it stings his pride to be brushed off like this, as Carter turns on her heel and leaves without ever really acknowledging him; every head in the room swiveling to follow her until she's out of sight.
He'd realized quick enough that even if he wasn't already on her list, he might as well not even be in the room with the way her and Steve were goo-goo eyeing each other a moment ago. Steve may have it bad for this lady, but she's not lookin' at anybody else either. He doubts either of them were paying attention to anybody but each other, and frankly it's nauseating.
Good for you kid. Too bad your girlfriend hates me.
"I'm invisible…" Bucky gripes, knowing Steve will eat it up. Might as well let the kid have the spotlight for once.
Steve, predictably, ribs him a little, and they settle back down to what's left of the evening. Bucky nurses his whiskey and sips it slow. Barely tastes it at this point. He wishes desperately that he could feel something from it, but life's just not fair sometimes. Steve doesn't appear to notice.
Steve says they'll celebrate later, as he stands up to head back. Sometime when things are less hectic. He looks like he really believes that. Bucky just shrugs, hunching over his glass. He'll catch up, he promises. Just wants to squeeze a little more enjoyment out of the night before he's got to get back to work.
Steve tells him to have fun.
Bucky waits until Steve's out of sight to let his face drop and take another long sip of his booze, savoring what little burn it gives him.
Fun.
Sure.
He'll get right on that.
END OF PLOT INTERLUDE