Saturday morning came after a sleep that was only moderately restful. After giving up on REM as the sun started to peek through her floor to ceiling windows, Evie rolled out of the nest of covers to brew a pot of coffee. As it bubbled to life, she opened her phone and dialed. Jade picked up on the second ring.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite center of a Super Soldier sandwich."

Evie rolled her eyes but chuckled, putting Jade on speaker as she pulled the quarter-full pot of coffee out mid-brew, too impatient to wait for it to finish. "Good morning to you, too."

"Oh, spill! I'm dying to hear everything."

Evie recapped her week, flopping down on the couch in a particularly cozy sunbeam. To Jade's credit, she was just as interested in the tedious work details as she was in the salacious ones she hoped to hear. "And then Tony came up to the lab tonight, but it was just to kick me out and drag me to the bar for drinks."

"Classic Evie, landing a job where the smoking hot boss forces you to leave work and go have fun with his equally hot coworkers. You poor thing. As a matter or fact, let me call up my Grandma and see if she can add you to her prayer list!" Jade laughed at her own joke."But seriously, consulting on a mission? Already? That's insane, Eves. I'm so proud of you."

Thanks, J. It's been…surreal. In the best way. You have to come visit soon, wait until you see this place. It makes my college place look like it should have been condemned."

"Babes, I say this with love, but that place absolutely should have been condemned. Consider this my official RSVP, I'll make it down in a couple weekends once you're more settled in. Gotta give you time to scope out the nightlife, prepare to show your favorite Boston girl a Manhattan good time."

"Will do," Evie giggled. "I'll make sure to get higher thread count sheets for the guest bedroom."

"My sugar momma," Jade cooed, despite them both knowing she came from more money than she ever acknowledged. "Now, enough about linens and saving the world. Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes? Tell me everything. What are they like? Does Steve really have America's ass?"

Evie laughed before pausing, thinking about how to describe them. "Steve is...exactly what you'd expect. Polite, charming, genuinely nice. He's an All-American guy. And Bucky, he's got this…brooding, mysterious vibe going on, but he's surprisingly funny. When he speaks, that is. They're both...let's just say they both surpass the version of them I had in my head from all my Grandma's stories."

"As if this wasn't already made-for-tv enough," Jade said through a full mouth of whatever breakfast she was scarfing down. "I forgot they knew your Grandma. Are you going to bring it up?"

"I thought about it, but not yet." Evie paused. "I don't want them thinking I'm a kid, you know? Something tells me that calling attention to the fact that they were childhood besties with my grandmother won't bode well for that."

Jade's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Because you're into one of them, aren't you?"

Evie laughed, rubbing her forehead even though Jade couldn't see her. "No, I mean, I wouldn't say anything is out of the question, but I just met them this week and I haven't hardly spoken to either of them."

"Oh. My. God." A fork clanged onto the plate on Jade's end. "You're into both of them! Evie! You slut!"

"I never said that!"

"You didn't have to. I felt it in my soul when I saw that picture. Even with your drunk eyes, I know when you have your mind set on someone. Or two someones."

Evie was quiet for a minute, taking a slow sip of her coffee. "Hypothetically…what if I was?"

"Hypothetically, what's stopping you? Go for it, or I'll hop on the highway right now and offer myself up instead!"

Evie stood, pacing around the living room and thinking out loud. "I mean, really, would it be so bad? I don't work for the Avengers, I work for Stark Industries. There's no rule against consultants and team members fraternizing. I'm a grown, adult woman. Age differences are antiquated anyways. Why choose if I can have both?"

Jade was momentarily speechless before bursting into laughter. "Damn, girl! I didn't see that coming, but so I'm here for it. You've always been bold, but this is next level. I've been saying for years that you needed to make up for all the getting laid you didn't do in college, and getting railed by two legendary Super Soldiers would probably do the trick."

"Jade!" Evie blushed despite being more than accustomed to her crass personality by now.

"I said it, you're definitely thinking it. All I'm asking for is a comprehensive report with no detail spared." She paused. "Maybe a tape, if you can be discreet about it."

"You are a heathen," She grinned, shaking her head.

"You love me."

"I do. I miss you, J."

"I miss you, Eves. I'll be there before you know it. Come up with something juicy for us to talk about."

Monday Morning Avengers' Tower

Evie didn't require much to get her out of bed when there was a state of the art lab at her disposal, but that didn't stop her from stopping at the coffee shop that had become her staple on the way into work. The caffeine flowing through her veins was working overtime as she stepped into the lobby of Avengers Tower, scrolling through the latest Stark tech reports on her tablet. She had almost managed to push Friday night from her mind—almost.

The elevator doors slid open just as she reached them, and suddenly, forgetting wasn't an option.

Steve and Bucky stepped out, dressed for a morning run, the cool air of the lobby doing little to keep the back of her neck from heating. Steve looked bright-eyed and effortlessly composed, the kind of thing Evie would usually hate to see from someone headed out for a run on a Monday morning. But on him? Anything but obnoxiously productive. Bucky, on the other hand, had a rougher edge to him—dark hair pushed back haphazardly, jaw set, tension in his shoulders like he wasn't fully at ease.

And yet, despite whatever internal war he was fighting, his blue eyes locked onto her the second she appeared across the elevator threshold.

Interesting.

Evie smiled as she slowed to a stop, tilting her head in faux consideration. "Early morning training or just running from your problems?"

Steve chuckled, easygoing as ever. "Keeping up the routine."

Bucky didn't smile, but there was something in the way his gaze flickered over her that made heat curl in her stomach. "Some of us just like to stay sharp," he said, voice even, almost dismissive.

Ah. So that's how we're playing it.

She raised an eyebrow, taking a slow sip of her coffee. "Would you like me to applaud?"

Steve gave a small laugh, ever the diplomat. "Applause is welcome but not necessary. You're here early too, big day ahead?"

Evie tapped a manicured nail against her coffee cup, flicking her eyes from him to Bucky. "Oh, you know. Just trying to stay sharp."

Bucky just looked at her, expression unreadable, but his metal fingers flexed briefly at his side—just enough for her to notice.

Evie let the silence stretch for a second longer than necessary before flashing a knowing smile. "But hey, don't let me keep you from training. I'm sure I'll see you around the Tower, but if not, Friday's just a few days away."

Steve's brows lifted slightly, but there was a flicker of something else behind his amusement. Something… contemplative. "You're serious about that?"

"Oh, dead serious." She took another sip of her coffee, looking between the two of them. "I expect you both to have some solid ideas for our inaugural Friday Night of Fun."

Steve gave a small nod, like he was already making a mental list. "We'll come up with something good."

Bucky exhaled sharply, shifting his weight like he wanted to be anywhere else—but instead of leaving, he glanced at her again. "You sure you're not just using us for a free ride?" The words were clipped, a little gruff, but…was this version of humor?

Evie's smile widened just a fraction. There it is.

She lifted her cup in a little mock toast. "I'll take all the free rides you two are willing to give."

And with that, she stepped past them and into the elevator, letting the doors close behind her before she let herself breathe. As much as she'd wanted to see the look on their faces with her double entendre, it was probably better to let it hang in the air. Well, no one ever accused me of subtlety.

Friday couldn't come soon enough.

Wednesday Afternoon Avengers' Tower

The week had more idle time than Evie would have liked. The mission with Orpheus, which was supposed to take place today, had been pushed back a week. New intel had revealed that the vibranium used to make weapons, otherwise known as the entire reason for the mission, wouldn't be shipped in until the following week. Although Evie loved being proactive, it's impossible to intercept a shipment a week early. She spent the week double and triple checking her algorithms and then writing a new one to counter it, trying to find any weak spots or flaws in her program.

There weren't any.

She oscillated between other engineers, offering help but trying to still grant them the autonomy of their own projects despite knowing she could knock all of them out by the end of the week. Finally, Wednesday afternoon rolled around. The follow up briefing was more of a formality than anything, meant to keep the team up to date on the details of the mission and the new developments. Not much had changed on Evie's end, but she was still thrilled to be included, both for the prestige of working with the Avengers and for the present company.

Although her heart pounded when Maria had given Evie the floor to speak, it was significantly easier than her first briefing. Maybe it was something about the way she'd seen Sam singing with a bachelorette party and Wanda taking lemon drop shots with Natasha that made them seem more…human. Plus, after her extensive reviews and re-reviews, she couldn't be more confident in the tech she was presenting. The briefing had gone flawlessly—her plan to bypass Orpheus' security had been airtight, and Tony had given her a rare, approving nod. Nat had smirked, muttered something about not bad, rookie, and Bucky had—well, Bucky hadn't scowled, which was basically a standing ovation.

She was dismissed by Maria, closing her laptop and leaving to a chorus of "Thanks Evie," from the team, which she acknowledged with a mock salute before slipping out the door. Now, as she made her way down the halls of the Tower, she barely suppressed a grin. It had been a hell of a few weeks, but moments like this reminded her exactly why she was here.

Calling the elevator, Evie heard footsteps echoing down the hallway, and turned—only to find Steve jogging towards her.

Slowing to a stop, he folded his arms across his chest, that easy, golden-boy charm written all over his face. "You did good in there," he said, nodding. "That was great, both the tech you presented and the way you held your own. Usually the newer consultants are too nervous to get through the information and we have to have Tony catch us up afterwards. I'm impressed."

Evie smirked, adjusting the strap of her tablet bag. "What, you thought I was just here for my looks?"

Steve chuckled. "Didn't say that." His voice was warm, teasing, but there was something else in his gaze—thoughtful, like he was taking her in, piece by piece.

She raised an eyebrow, smiling. "So…did you have a question about the polymorphic encryption?"

Steve grinned, shaking his head. "I was actually going to tell you we have an idea for Friday."

Evie narrowed her eyes. "Oh? Let's hear it."

Before Steve could answer, another presence turned around the corner and joined them—Bucky.

He came up alongside Steve, hands tucked in the pockets of his jacket, jaw set like he'd been debating whether or not to approach at all. His eyes flicked to Evie, then to Steve, and then back to Evie, something unreadable behind them.

Evie's amusement doubled. Oh, this just keeps getting better.

Steve, ever the picture of composure, didn't miss a beat. "I was just telling Evie we've got an idea for Friday."

Bucky let out a slow breath, gaze unreadable. "Yeah?"

Steve nodded. "I was thinking we do something fun but low-key—an escape room, maybe? Something where we actually have to work together without any real stakes."

"Interesting." Evie tapped a finger against her chin. "Brainpower over brawn. I like it."

Bucky made a noncommittal noise, finally looking directly at her. "I had something different in mind."

She tilted her head, smirking. "Oh? Enlighten me."

Bucky's lips pressed together for half a second, like he regretted speaking at all. But then he exhaled, clearly committing. "Shooting range. Something real."

Evie blinked, caught between intrigue and oh, that's hot.

Steve turned to his friend, eyebrows raised. "Shooting range?"

Bucky shrugged, shifting his weight. "If we're gonna do something together, might as well be something useful." His gaze flicked to Evie again, sharper now. "Unless you're more of a puzzle girl."

Evie felt the corners of her mouth twitch. "Oh, Barnes," she said smoothly, "I had heard you didn't cooperate with others, but here I was thinking Steve and I could be the exception."

Bucky's jaw tensed—just for a second—before he gave her a look that sent heat curling up her spine. "Careful what you wish for."

Steve cleared his throat, watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and something harder to place. "Well," he said lightly, "we can let her decide."

Evie crossed her arms, making a show of considering both options. "Hmm. Getting locked in a room full of riddles with you two or seeing which one of you is actually a better shot?" She grinned. "Tough choice."

Steve chuckled, shaking his head. Bucky just studied her, quiet and unreadable.

Evie took a step backward, stepping into the elevator as she shot them a knowing look. "Guess you two will just have to wait and see."

The doors slid shut, leaving them standing there.

And if she happened to hear Steve mutter this is gonna be interesting and Bucky let out a low breath after she left?

Well. That was just an added bonus.

Friday Morning Avengers Gym

Evie stepped onto the training mats, stretching out her arms as the familiar sounds of controlled violence filled the air—gloves smacking against punching bags, the rhythmic clash of fists meeting targets, the occasional grunt of exertion. The Avengers gym was in full swing, but she wasn't here to train.

She had business to attend to.

Her eyes locked onto Steve and Bucky, both deep into their respective routines across the sprawling room.

Steve was on the far side of the gym, effortlessly delivering precise punches to a heavy bag. He looked infuriatingly composed, like he wasn't absolutely pummeling the thing.

Bucky, meanwhile, was taking out some kind of frustration on a sparring dummy. His metal arm whirred slightly with each devastating hit, jaw tight, posture coiled. Whatever was on his mind, it wasn't light.

Well. That wasn't concerning at all.

Evie, fully aware she was about to make their day very interesting, strolled up with an easy smirk, holding her tablet in the crook of her arm and a coffee in the other. "Alright, boys. After careful deliberation, I've made my ruling on tonight's game plan."

Steve turned first, wiping his hands on a towel draped over his shoulder. "Oh yeah?"

Bucky took an extra second before acknowledging her, exhaling through his nose as he finally stepped back from his sparring dummy. "Let's hear it."

Evie let the silence stretch just a fraction longer than necessary, relishing their anticipation before flashing a wicked grin.

"We're going to a vintage arcade."

Bucky blinked..

Steve… processed. "Like… with pinball and Pac-Man?"

"Oh, exactly like that," Evie confirmed, crossing her arms. "Figured you two would feel right at home, given your…considerable life experience."

Steve's lips pressed together in what was almost a smile. "You really never get tired of the old-man jokes, do you?"

"It's not a joke if it's a fact." she cooed, tilting her head.

Bucky finally scoffed, running a hand through his slightly damp hair. "An arcade." His tone was as flat as a dead monitor.

Evie smirked. "Not just an arcade. A competition." She let the word settle, watching their reactions. "You two pride yourselves on your combat skills, your strategies, your precision—but can you handle classic gaming warfare? We're talking air hockey, racing sims, Street Fighter." She raised an eyebrow, gaze flicking between them. "Unless you're scared?"

Steve exhaled a quiet laugh, arms crossed, looking genuinely entertained. "I think we can handle it."

Bucky, still looking deeply unamused, muttered, "This is ridiculous."

"Oh, it's absolutely ridiculous," Evie agreed easily. "That's the point." She shrugged. "But hey, if you'd rather sit this one out…"

Bucky's eyes snapped to hers, sharp, challenging.

Yeah. That did it.

She watched as his jaw tightened slightly before he huffed, rolling his eyes. "I'll go."

Evie's grin widened. "That's the spirit, Barnes." She clapped her hands together. "Now, logistics. You two can pick me up at my place tonight."

Steve raised a brow. "You sure?"

"Well, considering you both already know where I live…" She let the implication linger, taking a sip of her coffee. "Might as well capitalize on those free rides."

Bucky, who had been very pointedly not reacting, made a small noise in the back of his throat.

Steve nodded. "Alright. We'll see you tonight."

Evie gave them both a little mock salute before turning on her heel.

Miraculously, the rest of the day flew by.

Evie barely registered the passage of time between the morning briefing and the end of the workday. She had spent the afternoon buried in the latest iteraation of the Iron Man suit, tuning out everything else as she dismantled, rebuilt, and improved the schematics Tony had thought were perfect. (They weren't.)

By the time she actually glanced at the clock, it was already pushing six, and her hair (and overall appearance) was still an absolute disaster.

Well. That wasn't ideal.

"…so let me get this straight," Jade's voice crackled over speakerphone, amused and way too invested. "You're spending your Friday night at an arcade—"

Evie shoved her foot into a boot, hopping slightly as she yanked the zipper up. "Vintage arcade."

"Excuse me—" Jade continued, her tone dripping with mock reverence, "a vintage arcade… with two of the most absurdly attractive men on the planet, and you don't think anything will happen tonight?"

Smirking, Evie reached for her other boot. "Now, now, let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Jade scoffed. "Oh, babe. We sped past 'ahead of ourselves' when you invited them to pick you up at your apartment."

Evie paused for half a second—damn, Jade had a point—before shaking it off and yanking her second boot into place. "Look, it's casual. They're picking me up in the lobby, not in my bedroom."

"Doesn't mean they won't be dropping you off there later.."

"Who am I to control fate if that's where the night is destined to go," Evie teased.

"Damn. You're really not processing this fully, are you?"

"There's nothing to process. We can joke, but the three of us made this plans in a group setting to keep ourselves from being boring workaholics. It's platonic. It's…fun. That's all."

Jade hummed like she didn't believe her for a second. "Alright, fine, let's pretend you're totally right. What's the actual plan here? You just gonna flirt your way through the night and hope the choice is made for you, or are we taking bets on which super soldier loses his mind first?"

Evie grabbed her phone off the vanity, laughing. "Please. If anyone is losing their mind, it's me. I'm trying to play it cool, but I had a Steve Rogers poster hanging in my bedroom until I was thirteen. Plus, I got fined for drawing hearts around their faces in my sixth grade textbook during the Howling Commandos unit."

"Finally, some honesty!" Jade cheered. "You're into them, Evie. Both of them. Admit it."

Evie hesitated.

Because, yeah. She was.

Steve, with his easy charm and steady, grounding presence. Bucky, with his quiet intensity and sharp, dry humor.

They were polar opposites, and yet… not. And she'd be lying if she said she hadn't thought about what it meant to be caught between them.

But she wasn't going to overthink it.

At least… not yet.

Before she could respond, a sharp bzzzzt interrupted her thoughts.

Her doorman's voice came through the intercom. "Miss Evie, you have… two gentlemen waiting for you in the lobby."

Jade screamed.

Evie winced, holding the phone away from her ear. "Jade!"

"Oh my GOD!" Jade cackled. "It's happening. It's literally happening."

Evie bit back a grin, smoothing her top as she crossed the room. "Yeah, yeah, contain yourself."

"Nope, sorry, absolutely losing it," Jade said, her voice breathless with glee. "Babe, you are about to step into the greatest rom-com of all time. Or a very hot disaster. Either way, I'm living for it."

Evie rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the thrill running through her. "I'll call you later."

"You better!"

Evie laughed, hitting the end button before she could get dragged into more chaotic speculation. Taking one last glance in the mirror, she exhaled. She'd settled on jeans over her favorite pair of boots, a white tank top that was just a smidge too low cut, and a vintage jacket from one of her most frequented stores back in Boston. Casual, but still flattering. She swiped on the kind of gloss that made her lips tingle and strode towards the door.

Showtime.

In the hall, she pressed the elevator button with the kind of confidence that only barely covered the very real excitement buzzing beneath her skin.

Because downstairs, two super soldiers were waiting.

And tonight?

Tonight was going to be fun.

Evie wasn't nervous.

She refused to be nervous.

That would imply that tonight was something more than a casual outing between teammates, and she wasn't the one making it complicated.

…Right?

Shaking off the thought, she stepped into the elevator, sliding her phone into the back pocket of her jeans. She had gone for casual—but calculated casual. A little effort, but not too much. Her hair was loose, falling in waves over her shoulders, and those trusty boots gave her an extra inch of confidence. It was nice to give her hair a break from the ponytails she favored so heavily in the lab.

The elevator doors slid open—and instantly, she spotted them.

Steve and Bucky were waiting. They had been mid-conversation, standing near the glass entry doors—but the second she stepped out, they both stopped. Looked at her.

At the exact same time.

Evie slowed slightly, tilting her head as she took them in. Steve, predictably, looked like the picture of All-American charm—wearing a fitted blue sweater, dark jeans, that effortlessly boyish look that should have felt unfair but instead just made him more Steve.

Bucky, standing just a little more stiffly beside him, was dressed in his usual dark layers—black henley, leather jacket, hands in his pockets like he was already bracing himself for this night.

And the way they were both looking at her now?

Unfair.

Evie let the silence stretch for half a second before breaking it herself. "Well," she drawled, grinning as she strode forward, "at least one of you dressed for fun."

Steve smirked, relaxed. "I take it you're not referring to me?"

Evie hooked an arm through each of theirs, boldly stepping between them like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Barnes, you do own something that isn't black, right?"

Bucky exhaled sharply, but didn't move away. "It's grey."

Evie shot him a knowing look. "Oh, wow. Revolutionary."

Steve chuckled, but Bucky just shook his head as they started walking toward the doors. They stepped outside, and parked at the curb was Steve's Jeep. He let go of her arm first, stepping forward to open the passenger door. "After you."

Evie grinned, shook her head, and bypassed him entirely.

She opened the back door instead, sliding into the middle seat before leaning forward between their seats with a smirk.

"Sorry, boys," she said breezily, tapping her fingers against Steve's headrest. "Sitting in the back makes me feel important. Like I have my own personal security team."

Steve let out a laugh as he crossed to the driver's side. "You're impossible."

Bucky, already climbing into the front seat, rolled his eyes. "You're something, alright."

Evie just grinned wider, leaning back and spreading her arms across the back seats. The Jeep rumbled to life, headlights cutting through the evening as they pulled away from her building. Steve glanced at her in the rearview mirror, an easy smile playing at his lips. "So, how was your week, Evie?"

Bucky didn't react outright, but Evie caught the slight twitch of his fingers where they rested on his knee. He was listening.

She grinned, brushing her hand through her hair. "Oh, you know. Same old. Rewrote one of Stark's suit protocols because it was, frankly, a mess. Bypassed an AI lockout one of the other engineers swore was unbreakable. Tested the mission tech about a trillion ways to make sure it's solid, and for the record, it is."

Steve huffed out a laugh. "Well, that's good to hear."

"I'm not sure how you thanked your previous technology consultants," she drawled. "But my shoe size is 8, I like red roses, and Italian food is my favorite. Just a few ideas."

Bucky's voice, dry as ever, finally cut in. "Let's get through the mission before we start the pandering."

Evie tilted her head, smiling sweetly. "That's fine. I can be patient. Plus, when this mission is over, it'll give me some time to work on a few more fun projects."

Bucky let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "Great. We'll probably find out when we get back that you've unlocked nuclear codes just to see if you could."

Evie grinned. "Please. Like I haven't already gone down that road."

Steve shot her a look in the mirror, half amused, half genuinely wary. "I feel like we should be more concerned."

She shrugged. "Nah. Just trust that I've made sure that if Orpheus or anyone else tries to screw with us, I know exactly where the weak spots are."

That got a reaction.

Bucky's gaze flicked toward her, something more calculating beneath his usual skepticism. Steve's grip on the wheel tightened just a fraction.

"Wow. Look at you two. So serious." She exhaled dramatically, sinking back against the seat. "But no more work talk, that violates a cardinal rule of Friday night outings."

Steve chuckled. "Oh, there's rules now?"

"Only where necessary to ensure we're successful. We're here to have fun and not be workaholics, right? We made it, oh…" She checked the clock on the dashboard. "Less than ten minutes. We can try for a new record next week."

Bucky, arms crossed now, just muttered, "Lovely."

Evie grinned, ignoring him. "Fine. Let's talk about you two instead. How do you feel about being historically accurate tonight?"

Steve glanced at her again, confused. "Historically accurate?"

She gestured at the windshield. "I mean, it is a vintage arcade. You two should feel right at home."

Bucky's head tipped back against the seat. "Oh my God."

Steve sighed, shaking his head as if resigned to his fate. "Here we go."

Evie leaned forward again, grinning. "Did they even have arcades when you were young? Or was it all, like, hoop-and-stick? Were you two pioneers of the pinball era?"

Steve exhaled a laugh, playing along. "I hate to break it to you, but I wasn't that old when I went under."

Bucky, however, just looked out the window and deadpanned, "We actually missed the invention of electricity by a few years. My first arm was wooden."

Evie snorted. "I knew it."

Steve shook his head, grinning now. "You know, you could try going one day without an old-man joke."

Evie gasped, hand over her heart. "I could. But joking about either of your biceps or perfect hair just doesn't hit the same."

Bucky sighed, running a hand down his face, but she caught the way his mouth twitched—like he was fighting a smile.

Good.

Evie settled back into her seat, satisfied. "So," she said, tapping her fingers against Steve's headrest again, "I hope you boys are ready to be absolutely humbled tonight."

Steve grinned. "Confident, huh?"

Evie winked. "It's the only way to be. I want to win big. I'm speaking it into existence."

Bucky, still looking out the window, muttered, "We'll see."

Oh. That sounded like a challenge. Evie's smirk widened as they pulled into the parking lot.

This night just kept getting better and better.

The Jeep rolled to a stopt, neon lights from the arcade spilling onto the pavement like something out of an 80s movie. Evie practically bounced as she hopped out, taking in the flashing signs, the hum of old speakers, the chaotic mix of electronic bleeps and victory jingles filtering through the glass doors. Then, without missing a beat, she turned back to Steve and Bucky and grinned.

"Wow," she said, placing a hand over her heart. "This must be deeply emotional for you two."

Steve sighed, already shaking his head. "Here we go again."

Bucky, hands shoved in his jacket pockets. "You really think we were hanging out in arcades before the war?"

Evie tilted her head. "Weren't you?"

Steve huffed out a laugh. "You do realize pinball didn't even exist until the 1940s, right?"

"Between saving Steve from picking fights, there wasn't much time for games." Bucky grumbled. "There's a first time for everything."

Evie gasped dramatically. "Oh my God. You mean to tell me neither of you ever experienced the pure joy of stuffing a dollar into a rigged claw machine? Or—" she turned to Bucky, delighting in the way his gaze narrowed in anticipation of whatever was coming next—"gunning down zombies in a terribly pixelated first-person shooter?"

Bucky exhaled slowly. "Jesus Christ."

Steve just gave her an entertained look. "You're having fun already, aren't you?"

Evie beamed. "Absolutely." With that, she grabbed Steve's sleeve and dragged him toward the entrance. "Come on, Cap," she said, leading the way. "I've got so much to teach you."

The second they stepped inside, Evie sighed happily. "Ahhh. The sound of capitalism."

Steve, taking it all in with an almost nostalgic smile, shook his head. "So this is what we fought for, huh?"

Bucky, deadpan, replied, "Feels like a mistake."

Evie grinned, ignoring them. Instead, she took one quick scan of the place before spotting exactly where she wanted to start. "Oh," she breathed, eyes lighting up. "Steve. Steve."

Steve blinked, immediately wary. "…Yes?"

Evie grabbed his wrist, already pulling him toward the air hockey tables. "Let's go," she said. "It's time."

Bucky, leaning casually against the machine next to them, watched with a mixture of amusement and exhaustion as Evie and Steve squared up.

"I hope you're ready to have your ass handed to you, Rogers," Evie said, rolling her shoulders.

Steve just smiled, rolling a puck between his fingers. "I'm always up for a challenge."

Evie narrowed her eyes. "That's what they all say."

Bucky, watching this unfold like it was a sporting event, muttered, "This is gonna be stupid."

Evie pointed at him without looking away from Steve. "You're next." Bucky exhaled sharply but didn't argue.

Steve just laughed, dropping the puck onto the table. "Alright. Let's see what you got."

Evie started strong. She was fast, aggressive, and absolutely not above playing dirty. Steve, ever the strategist, took his time reading her moves, adapting as he went. The result? Chaos.

By mid-game, Steve had flipped the script, catching up point by point, and Evie was swearing under her breath, jacket discarded on a barstool, hair slightly wild, and smirking like a woman on the edge.

Steve scored a goal, tying the game, and grinned at her as he stood up and rolled his shoulders. "I'm closing in on you."

Evie, grinning back, leaned over the table. "I know."

Then, before Steve could react, she launched a sneak attack—a perfectly timed shot while he was still catching his breath.

The puck slammed into his goal.

Victory.

Evie threw her arms up. "And that's how it's done!"

Steve, blinking, let out a startled laugh. "That was cheap."

Bucky, who had actually chuckled, said, "You let your guard down, Rogers. Rookie move."

Evie beamed, stepping away from the table. "Alright, Barnes. You're up."

Bucky raised a brow as he took a sip of his beer. "Pass."

Evie rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. What's the matter? Scared you won't be as tough of a competitor as Steve?"

Bucky's jaw tensed.

Hook, line, and sinker.

He let out a slow breath, pushed off the table, and tilted his head at her. "Fine."

Evie grinned. "Good choice."

Bucky, unsurprisingly, didn't pick air hockey.

No.

He walked straight to the shooting games.

Evie, bemused, followed. "Oh wow. This is the most predictable thing you could've done."

Bucky grabbed one of the plastic guns, barely reacting. "You wanted me to play."

Evie smirked, crossing her arms. "That's true. I did."

They watched as Bucky nonchalantly selected the hardest difficulty. Evie, still watching him like he was a line of code she couldn't wait to crack, raised a brow. "You don't even want to warm up first?"

Bucky gave her a look. "I think I'll manage."

And then? He absolutely annihilated the game. Every single shot perfect. No misses. No wasted movements. By the time he finished the level—top score flashing on the screen—Steve was smirking and Evie was dumbstruck.

Bucky casually put the gun back and turned to her. "Happy now?"

Evie, definitely enjoying herself too much, shrugged. "Yeah, actually."

And then she turned back to Steve—like she hadn't just mentally saved the image of Bucky effortlessly wrecking a shooting game forever—and smiled.

"Alright, Cap. Back to you."

Evie lost track of time after that. Laughing with Steve. Playing through different games. Brushing arms with him here and there, caught up in the moment. But then—in between games, as the screen went dark for a second—

She saw the reflection.

Bucky.

Watching her.

The second the screen lit up again, it was gone.

But she felt it.

Low in her stomach.

And suddenly, the night didn't feel so simple anymore.

Hours later, Evie, still buzzing from the last game, spun on her heel, hands on her hips as she surveyed the arcade. She was winning tonight, in more ways than one. Steve? He was all in on the fun, easygoing and competitive but never taking anything too seriously. Bucky? He was pretending this whole thing bored him—but she knew better now.

Now she was going to push just a little more.

Evie spotted the dartboard on the far side of the room and smirked.

She turned back to the guys, tilting her head. "Alright, boys. Final game. Winner gets to pick next week's activity, and I promise not to veto it. Unless it's horrible. Then I reserve the right."

Steve, ever the good sport, grinned. "Darts?"

Evie flashed him a look. "It's a classic. The ultimate old-man sport. It's been around since the Dark Ages, probably. I figured you two would thrive."

Bucky, who had been in the process of taking a sip from beer, rolled his eyes.

Steve just sighed, smiling despite himself. "You really don't stop, do you?"

Evie beamed. "Not a chance."

She strolled over to the dartboard, plucking a set of red darts from the shelf.

"Alright," she said, offering them out to the two men. "Let's see what you fossils can do."

Steve went first.

He lined up his shot, perfectly focused, and— a near bullseye.

Evie sighed dramatically. "Ugh. Predictable."

Bucky smirked slightly, shaking his head.

Then it was his turn.

He barely even hesitated, throwing the dart with effortless precision.

Another near- bullseye, hitting the board on the opposite side of the center.

Evie crossed her arms, pouting. "Oh, come on."

Steve chuckled, nudging her shoulder. "Told you we'd be fine."

Bucky, still looking at his dart the board, grumbled, "You wanted participation. If you didn't want to lose, you shouldn't have challenged us." He turned to face her. "Time for you to back up all the shit-talking."

Evie's eyebrows shot up. Oh. Oh, really?

"Well," she said, tapping her chin, "I would throw, but it's obviously not fair. I don't have an Olympic-level arm or a vibranium-enhanced one."

Steve laughed. "Excuses already?"

Bucky exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Wow. That's gotta be against one of the rules."

Evie narrowed her eyes. "Okay, Barnes. If you're so confident you can win, then helping me level the playing field shouldn't be a problem."

"Yeah? And how do we do that?"

Evie grinned, stepping into the spot in front of the board. "Teach me."

Steve blinked. "What?"

Bucky stared at her, immediately suspicious. "No."

Evie ignored him, turning to Steve. "C'mon, Cap. You're the world's best teacher, right? Give me the proper form."

Steve conceded with a smile. "Alright."

He stepped behind her, lifting her arm slightly, adjusting the way she held the dart.

"Grip it a little lighter," he said, his voice even and instructive. "Relax your wrist."

Evie felt the warmth of his hand against hers, his touch gentle, careful. She was fully aware of how close he was. Then—a second later—

Bucky sighed. "Jesus Christ."

Evie barely had time to register it before he moved behind her. One hand on her hip, the other adjusting her stance. "Widen your legs here," his boot nudged the inside of her shoe and she obeyed. His hands rotated her hips ever so slightly, opening her up to the board.

Oh.

Oh, this was a mistake.

His fingers pressed lightly against her side, his voice gruff but quiet. "You're stiff. Drop your shoulder."

Evie swallowed.

The two of them had her completely caged in now.

Steve's touch warm and steady on her hand as his fingers remained around her wrist.

Bucky's presence solid and grounding behind her as his hands lingered on her hips.

Evie took a breath, focused on the board. She threw. The dart sank right into the bullseye.

She blinked, a little breathless, taking a moment to steady herself before grinning and stepping back from them.

"Well. Looks like I'm the winner."

Steve exhaled a laugh, shaking his head. "I can't believe that worked."

Bucky, watching her closely now, muttered, "Unbelievable."

Evie just smiled, grabbing her jacket.

"I think the rules say the loser has to pay the tab," she said, grinning. "I'll let you two decide that part amongst yourselves."

Bucky snorted. "You're unbearable."

Evie winked. "And yet, here you are."

Steve sighed, but he was smiling. "Alright. Let's get you home."

The drive back was easy, relaxed, and filled with the kind of effortless camaraderie that had been building between them. Steve drove, one hand resting casually on the wheel, the other wrapped around the edge of the seat as he glanced between the road and Evie. Bucky sat in his usual way—legs spread, arm resting against the door, occasionally glancing toward the backseat where Evie sat leaning between them, chin propped on her hand.

The teasing had been nonstop.

"You know," Steve started, grinning as he shifted lanes, "I still think you got lucky with that shot."

Evie let out a mock gasp, clutching her chest. "Oh? You don't think it's because of my incredible instructors?"

Steve chuckled, shaking his head. "Flattery will get you nowhere."

Bucky let out a short huff of amusement, muttering, "Since when?"

Evie grinned at him through the mirror before refocusing on Steve. "Come on," she nudged, leaning forward just a little more, brushing against his shoulder. "You have to admit, that was better than a night sitting at the Tower with Sam. Your couch is comfortable, but not that comfortable."

Steve let out a long-suffering sigh, as if admitting defeat physically pained him. "Alright, you win. It was fun."

Evie beamed, victorious.

Steve glanced sideways at Bucky. "Don't you agree, Buck?"

Bucky shrugged, staring straight ahead, deadpan. "Had a blast."

Evie snickered, nudging Bucky's seat with her knee. "Oh, don't let the excitement overwhelm you, Barnes."

Steve smirked. "Yeah, careful, Buck. You might actually sound like you enjoyed yourself."

Bucky's mouth twitched, but he stayed resolutely blank. "If I say I had fun, you two are just gonna bring it up every five minutes for the next month."

Evie nodded sagely. "Smart man. It would probably be closer to two."

They reached the entrance to her building, laughter still lingering between them, the buzz of the evening refusing to fade even as they stepped inside. The lobby was quiet at this late hour, the sound of their footsteps muffled against the polished floors. The air smelled faintly of clean linen and expensive cologne, something Evie had loved ever since she first toured the building.

They walked toward the elevator, still loose, still light.

"And to think," Evie mused, swinging her keys around her finger, "we could all be screaming at each other in an escape room right about now."

Steve huffed a laugh, shaking his head. "Okay, fine, your idea was better."

"That was almost the worst decision of our lives," Bucky muttered.

"Speak for yourselves," Evie shot back. "I love escape rooms. I just love winning more."

"Yeah, well, we have plenty of Friday's to plan. I'm sure we'll get there eventually.," Steve shook his head..

Bucky snorted. "Don't count on it.."

They stopped in front of the elevator, the night's energy still playful, still fun when Evie paused. She turned back to them, her smile just a little too sweet. It was subtle—barely a shift, but they both caught it.

Steve and Bucky straightened slightly, instincts kicking in.

Evie stepped inside the elevator, not breaking eye contact, her expression unreadable but decidedly smug. Steve's eyebrows lifted, Bucky's eyes narrowed.

"I should probably confess something," she said smoothly.

The doors started to close.

Steve's fingers twitched at his side, as if readying for a curveball.

Bucky's jaw tensed. "What?"

Evie let the silence hang—just for a second, just enough to watch the intrigue sharpen in their eyes. Then she flashed them a grin.

"I've been playing darts with my dad since I was ten."

Silence.

The sound of the elevator humming softly around them. Steve blinked. Bucky's brows snapped together. Evie's grin widened.

"I could hit a bullseye blindfolded."

The elevator doors began to slide shut. Steve's mouth parted slightly, a slow realization dawning. Bucky's entire expression shifted—eyes narrowing, lips pressing into a thin line.

Evie beamed.

"Goodnight, boys."

The doors shut with a finality that left them standing there, staring at the closed elevator, silent.

For several beats, neither of them spoke.

Bucky finally exhaled.

"You have got to be kidding me."

Steve dragged a slow hand down his face.

"…We're so screwed."