Cool Kids
Buckys POV
Bucky, Clint and Nat had spent the past two days helping each other decorate the apartment. They did the main living area first, as it was a shared space and where they would spend most of their time.
The couch/TV area was small with only a coffee table in between the couch and screen: there was a soft, fluffy black and white spiral rug spread across underneath the wooden table; the couch was black which complimented the two white pillows with little bats printed across them, one on both sides, lying against the arm rests; there was a bright yellow pikachu plush sat right in the middle, pride of place, which was Buckys, who had insisted that it live in the main area so that ‘he got the love he deserved’; the TV was framed with vines Nat had bought online in bulk, more of these could be found throughout their apartment; the table was clear for now, just a small stack of coasters sat on the side, where they lived to help them all in the delusion that they could keep in clean.
The small kitchenette was to the left of this one open space. This was left fairly blank for now but Bucky could see him adding about 100 different stickers to the cupboard doors over the coming months. Nat had also added her vines to the area giving it some originality, they had also placed a vase on one of the sides near the door, which has now been vacated by some flowers Bucky bought Natasha as a thank you for driving them.
Clint had also gone out his way to buy 1000 mini baby figures and out of his pure, caring heart had hid them all over the apartment for the other two to find- he decided to keep this a secret, constantly smiling to himself over how proud he was of the idea, he knew this was going to be free entertainment for the next year of his life.
They had decided to do each of their rooms separately only helping when one of the others had asked for it.
Bucky did his room all alone, staying up late into the night to finish it fully. He wanted it to feel as much like home as possible, he placed photos of his favourite singers, bands, actors, characters, games and more all over the wall behind his bed and around the wall to the left (where the door stood).
The wall in front had little space to cover as it was mainly storage, but the small window of white wall was covered in pictures of his friends, family and Alpine, he placed fairy lights all around them, highlighting them softly. He added a few small trinkets and figures he brought with him from all different interests to his desk to accompany him when hes working. He also had a framed photo of him, Clint, Nat and Alpine that they had taken a few years back on the other side of his computer just for show.
Then there was, lastly, the wall opposite the door, next to the desk. Which was mainly took up by a wide, long window, that Bucky had highlighted with some vines he stole from Natasha, while also adding some white and black mesh-like material to create a more textured and bulky exterior of the window.
On his bedside table sat: a small cobweb printed light, that (when dark and switched on) projected the same pattern around the room; and a small pile of comic books that Bucky had decided were necessary to bring with him all this way.
His bed had a simple black checkered cover and a black spaced covered blanket which laid across the bottom portion of it. The top half was covered in different sized plushies: one being a soft, medium, brown teddy with a red bow around its neck Clint had won him on a school trip back in sixth grade; another, being a moon jelly cat his mum had bought him, while she gave a matching sun one to Natasha when they graduated; the last one was a small plush of a white wolf that, after years of love and snuggles had become rugged and kinda tatty looking. It was his favourite and has been since he was about 10 months old, and he had never gone anywhere without it since.
Bucky was lying snuggled in bed in a blanket burrito not wanting to leave the warmth of his bed. He was mindlessly scrolling through tiktok watching video after video of bottles rolling down stairs.
He could hear movement coming from outside his room, probably Natasha coming back from her morning run. He sat up slowly, switching his phone off, he let out a soft grunt from the movement. He lent over reaching toward his clock, which was resting on his bedside table… 10am.
“Time to get up I guess” he whispered to no one but himself, as more persuasion to get up and live like a functional human being.
Bucky opened his door and was instantly hit with the smell of eggs and bacon, this made Bucky grin. He never had this… waking up to someone making breakfast, being welcomed from his slumber with the smells of food wafting through the air, it was nice.
“What’re you smiling at handsome?” Natasha spoke, looking up from the frying pan where the bacon was sizzling away, with a smile- a small glint in her eye from where the sun was shining through the window.
Bucky loved the way Nat looked in the morning, she looked so naturally beautiful, it truly made his brain wrack trying to guess how she does it. How was her hair so perfect? How did her skin look so smooth? How were her eyes so bright? how did she look like she just walked out of a spa and not a 40 minute jog around the college ground?? She truly was a woman of mystery.
“Just your beautiful ass Natalia.” Bucky flirted back with a smirk.
He pulled out a stool from the very small breakfast bar that separated the kitchenette to the living room. Just watching Natasha cook and live in her moment, if Bucky could draw he would always being drawing her: the way Nat moved, the way her long red hair bounced as she moved, the way her body swiftly moved from one end of the room to the other with no sound- she was always so elegant, like a true ballerina.
Music softly filled the air, Natasha humming quietly along, swaying her hips as she dishes up the breakfast.
Bucky was transfixed, he truly loved her, he admired her in everything she did. Him and Clint were so blessed to have her in their lives and they knew it.
Nat turned to face Bucky, sliding a plate towards him, “Go wake Clint before you start please, you’re closer” Nat asked, pointing in the direction of Clints snores.
Bucky sighed, putting the fork back down from his mouth, “Yes mom” he teased before standing up moving towards Clints room.
Bucky banged on the door with his left hand, “GET UP DICKBAG! MOTHER NAT MADE US BREAKFAST!” he basically screamed through the door, looking at Natasha with a smirk at his comment.
Nat huffed with a smile before looking back down at her own food, “I’ve got to keep my boys nice and strong, god knows how you would be living without me” she said with a mouth full of food.
Bucky heard shuffling coming from Clints room, content that he had completed his mission, he walked back over to the stool before quickly picking up where he left off.
A few minutes later a sleepy, blanket covered Clint emerged from his room. Clint was never a morning person, he decided to bring his blanket out with him, not even bothering to get changed or do anything to his hair before walking out to sit with his friends.
He plops himself onto a stool, not even bothering to acknowledge his friends before muttering “coffee.” to the general area… Clint needed coffee.
“Morning to you too dickhead” Bucky said ruffling his hair up some more, Natasha laughed softly before turning to pore Clint a coffee.
After breakfast they spend the next few hours playing Mario kart. Nat absolutely obliterating Bucky and Clint every time, making them get more and more heated every round, choosing to gang up on her so that she couldn’t win.
This was Buckys favourite way to pass time. He loved the simple things, just laughing and messing around with his friends- the only thing that would be making this better was if they could be getting high … but ‘nO smOkInG iN THe BUiLdiNg’, ugh what a stupid rule, “who needs safety precautions?!” Bucky thought to himself while rolling his eyes at the idea.
“YES! WON YET AGAIN! Come on guys you’re fucking slacking- I can go easy on you if you want.” Nat exclaimed happily next to Bucky bouncing up and down in her seat slightly making the whole coach move with her.
Bucky turned to her, smiling at how happy she was: her smile spread across her face showing her white shiny teeth, her green eyes bright with life, her cheeks brushed with a soft pink glow from the excitement of the game.
Nat caught Bucky looking, catching his eye, they sat there staring (for Nat, what felt like an eternity), their smiles faltering slightly, Natasha placed a hand on Bucky's knee.
Clint coughed breaking the silence, they broke away from each other. Looking towards Clint, who was sat there on the floor looking up at them with a small smirk on his face.
“Right, well I’m going to go get us some lunch. Bagels sound good?” Clint said quickly, standing up going to grab his keys and wallet. Bucky and Natasha nodding in agreement at the idea of beagles.
“I’ll come with you!” Bucky responded standing up quickly dropping his controller, flattening out his KISS band shirt before walking to follow Clint out the door.
not even daring to look back down at Nat, who had a slightly stunned look on her face- confused by everything moving so fast.
Truth was, that whole moment with Nat was strange to Bucky. He had always flirted with her, always admired her body and personality, he loved her- but something about the way she looked at him then and the small knee touch just made his stomach turn. But, he always flirted with every woman- it was his thing, he knew he was good at it, but he had never actually had feelings for anyone, never once truly being interested in someone. He thought maybe he just hadn’t met the right person yet, but the whole Natasha thing was too much and he didn't want to think about it, he had to get out of there.
Clint and Bucky are making their way back down the street, the afternoon sun beaming down on them, as the cool fall breeze blows in their face, beagles in hands along with some ice coffees. They spent the time joking, talking about starting college in the next couple of days and how they were feeling about it.
As they were reaching the apartment building, two people came falling out the door laughing so hard they couldn’t walk straight: one had short brown curly hair, he was wearing a big red woolen jumper and ripped baggy jeans; while the other guy had slightly longer, shaggy hair that looked to be dyed white, with his dark root poking through, indicating he hadn’t redyed it in awhile, he was wearing a skin tight black top (which didn’t leave much to the imagination, sticking to him like a second skin, able to see his rock hard abs through it, Bucky observed) and baggy, worn in jeans that had little doodles all over it as if he had drawn on them himself.
As they approached each other, the other boys straightened up slightly. Not wanted to embarrass themselves, the small guy knocked into Clint causing him to spill one of the coffees.
“Shit! I’m so sorry!” the brown haired guy said, frantically trying to dry off Clint with his sleeve.
“Don’t worry dude, it happens to the best of us” Clint responded with a forced laugh, trying not to let his frustration seep through, not wanting to make the situation worse.
Bucky and the silver haired guy stood next to each other, laughing admiring their friends' misfortunes together.
“No, no, here take some money for it. I’m so sorry” the smaller boy apologized again, rummaging through his pocket trying to reach some change.
“Its okay, honestly. We only spilt a little, plus it wasn’t entirely your fault, I should have been looking where I was going too.” Clint repeated through a small smile.
Trying to wipe the rest off, before looking up to the culprit. Clint could see the genuine fear in the persons brown eyes while he offers him some money for the issue. Clint feeling bad for the kid now, smiled softly, pushing the money back towards him.
“Keep your money, buy yourself a coffee with it.” he continued, with a calmer tone than before.
Trying to show them he isn’t actually scary, he just may look it. He's been told by Nat and Bucky that he has a resting bitch face on multiple occasions.
“Oh, okay thanks. I’m Peter by the way and this is my friend Pietro.” he said, shoving the money back in his pocket, pointing beside Bucky where Pietro was stood waving as Clints gaze fell upon him.
“Hi Peter, Pietro. I’m Bucky and the guy you bumped into is Clint.” Bucky chimed in, talking way smoother then Clint or Peter ever could. He was so good with social cues than anyone Clint had ever met, it annoyed him to no end.
“Where are you heading out to in such a rush, that you bumped into my friend here?” he continued with his classic smirk.
“We are just heading out to buy some supplies for Starks party this evening.” Peter answered, pointing in the direction of the nearest shop.
Bucky and Clint looked at each other, confusion on their face that read, ‘whats this kid talking about? Why he saying it so matter of factly, as if we know what he means?’.
Seemed Pietro noticed this quiet conversation between the two and added, “You know, Tony Starks ‘welcome party’ he's having tonight, everyone that is going to MIT is invited.”
He noticed the still blank stares he was getting back so he continued with a smile, “You clearly aren’t from here. Tony lives up about 30 minutes from here, I’ll give you his address- you should definitely come later. Peter can make you a drink in apologies for spilling this one.”, he shoves Peter slightly in the arm with his elbow.
Taking out an old receipt and small IKEA pencil from his pocket writing something down (which Bucky assumed was the address), before passing it Clint “It starts at 8.” Pietro finished, starting to walk away.
“I hope to see you guys later! I’ll look out for you!” Peter said waving before doing a small jog to catch up to his taller friend.
“THANKS FOR THE INVITE” Clint and Bucky both shouted to their backs in response, but only Bucky lingered slightly longer, taking in Pietros form one last time before continuing to walk towards the building.
Bucky came through the door first, throwing the keys on the side before looking over at Natasha, who was sitting on the coach still, scrolling through her phone. She looked up, making Bucky feel a little anxious, remembering what had happened just before they left. Then Clint walked in smelling like coffee and her stare landed on him and the coffee stain that was now visible on Clints top.
“Where the fuck have you guys been? I’m starving.” Nat said, putting her phone down beside her. Turning fully around on the coach so she could see them properly, leaning her arms on the back of it.
“Better eat up, and start getting ready angel, we’re going to a billionaires party!” Bucky informed Nat, adding a little flirtation in to see how she reacted.
Bucky came around beside the coach before seating himself on the floor in front of the coffee table, handing one bagel to Nat before placing the other two on the surface in front of him.
“Party? Billionaire? What did you guys get up to while out?.” Natasha asked, taking a massive bite out of her bagel.
“And why does Clint have a massive coffee stain on his favourite ‘the thing’ top?? He would never let anything happen to that” She observed.
“All very valid questions Natalia, I’m sure Clint would love to enlighten you.” Bucky responded with a slight laugh, as he thinks back to the moment from earlier.
“A fucking scrawny ass, Jamie Bell looking kid ramed straight into me and made me spill my lovely caramel ice latte, all over my favourite top. But as an apology said he would get me a drink at Tony Starks ‘welcome party’ tonight. That apparently all MIT students are invited to. So now we have to go because I want that drink.” Clint recapped Natasha as he followed Buckys steps and came around the coach with the ice coffees, sitting down on the left of Natasha before digging into his bagel too.
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Steves POV
Steve was sat on his bed, in his newly decorated room, staring at the ceiling listening to Frank Ocean, trying not to have an anxiety attack over this party.
His mum told him he doesn’t have to go and he knows no one is making him go. But he wants to go! He really does!
He liked hanging out with everyone yesterday. They all seemed super nice, he has the chance to make friends and start over. He wants to take it, but the idea of going somewhere new, not knowing where all the exits are, not knowing any of the people well enough- if at all, loud music, lots of lights, cramped busy people filled rooms. None of it sounded fun to Steve he liked to know what he was getting himself in to, where all the safest roots to leave are (incase he freaks out and needs a breather).
The thought was making him tense up, he started to feel his chest getting tighter. He quickly sat up, putting his head in his hands, telling himself to breathe, he tried focusing on the music playing. It was ‘slow dancing in the dark’ by Joji, the calming, slow melody was helping his breathing, he kept listening, focusing hard on Jojis deep vocals. Soon his breathing slowed and he got feeling back in his face, which had gone numb from the lack of oxygen.
Steve stayed there for a few extra minutes to collect himself before picking up his phone and messaging Peggy, he had been keeping her updated on his new american life.
Stevie Boy: Hey Peg, just about to get ready for the big party that starts in just over an hour. I hope it goes well tonight, you know how I can get…
Peggy <3: Oh Steve, you’re going to be fine- I’ll be right here if you need me. Plus I need you to give me all the hot tea on the billionaires of Stark Industries!
Stevie Boy: would never deprive you of any gossip- I wouldn’t dare, you hold so much power, I would be able to feel your wrath from overseas.
Peggy <3: Damn right!
Peggy <3: What you going to wear? Give me a fit check!
Stevie Boy: I was thinking my blue polo, light brown trousers, doc martin boots and brown leather jacket?
Peggy <3: SHOW MEEEEE
Steve put down his phone, standing up to walk over to his wardrobe. He opened the black painted doors, searching through his clothes till he found the items he listed for Peggy. Sliding off the baggy hoodie and joggers he was wearing and swapping them out for his polo and trousers.
He looked himself in the mirror, shocking himself once again at just how tight his tops were on him… he turned flexing one of his arms, he could feel the sleeve dig in to his muscle slightly. The button up collar of the shirt open, giving a small peak in the definition of his chest and a soft outline of his abs could be seen through the thin material.
After the shock, he brushed his hair back, that was getting slightly longer then Steve would usually allow but he thought ‘new place, new school, new look’. So he let the back of his hair be pressed back and he could feel the ends stroke against his neck.
He picked up his phone, angling the camera so you could see the full fit, boots and all, before sending it off to Peggy for her final verdict.
While he waited he checked the time, noticing he had half an hour left. He went around his room finding his keys, wallet and his phone was in his hand, it chimed just as he was making a mental note that he had everything.
Peggy <3: Looks great handsome!
Peggy <3: Now go knock them dead with your charm that I adore so much x
Stevie Boy: Thanks Peg! Message you when I get back!!
Steve made his way down the stairs, trying to keep his calm in front of his dad because he didn’t want a lecture on why it would ‘make him look weak’ if he showed any form of emotion.
As he reached the main foyer he saw his mum and dad sat on the coach, watching criminal minds, he walked in standing near the doors.
Sarah looked over first, “Oh darling! You look dashing!” she exclaimed.
Looking over at Joe for confirmation, who was still looking at the TV, “Doesn’t he look so handsome Joe?” She pushed, trying to catch his attention.
Joe finally turned, looked Steve up and down once before looking back at the screen in front of him, “Yes dear, he looks very smart. Go have fun Steve, curfew is 12, any later and I’ll be having a talk with you.” Joe responded.
Sarah motioned for Steve to come closer to her, stretching out her hand to hold his, “You’re going to be great hun. Anyone would be blind to not want to talk to you” she whispered with a smile, squeezing his hand before waving him off, mouthing ‘go, have a great time’
He slipped his phone, keys and wallet into his leather pocket, along with his slightly clammy hands. His stress still lingering, no matter how much he tried to push it down. He takes one last deep breath before opening the door, being hit with the chill of the Fall night, lights illuminating his path down his stone driveway, towards the Starks house.