Best Bet

LATER THAT NIGHT, STEVE COULDN'T seem to get Tony off of his mind. The blond tossed and turned in his small mattress, shutting his eyes closed and trying his best to go to sleep. He needed it desperately for tomorrow, for there would be class and football practice. Not to mention his tutoring session. Violently sobbing himself to sleep was another option he could go for, but Steve wasn't in the mood to bother Bucky with his meaningless crying. The boy groaned, running his hands through his hair.

A thought passed through his mind: Was Tony dealing with the same problem? No, probably not.

From what Steve had heard about the brunet from the many girls on campus, he didn't think twice about most things. He didn't want to believe their gossip now. Tony had proved himself to be a good person, maybe not to all people, but at least him.

"Would you just tell me what's going on with you?" Bucky asked, the light from his phone illuminating his face as he looked over at Steve. "I would rather not listen to you groan all night."

Steve sighed,  should he tell him?  

"It's nothing, Buck."

"Well, it's obviously something." Bucky shifted his position on his bed, now sitting on the edge so he could look Steve straight in the face. His hair was in a messy bun, some loose strands falling around his face. The brunet raised an eyebrow in question, but Steve still refused to answer. "Who was it this time? I'll beat them up, no questions asked."

To say that Steve had a bullying problem in his childhood was a major understatement. The boys in his school -- who were always bigger, better and stronger -- always thought it would be funny to follow him on his way back home and beat him up in alleyways. In the hallways after classes, they would knock his art supplies right out of his hands, steal his shoes, even sometimes going to the extent of taking his backpack for the week before returning it. They never got in trouble for the things that they did to Steve, so he told his mother he didn't want to go to school anymore. That was when Bucky found out about it, and boy was he furious.

Bucky stood in front of Steve, arms crossed. He had always towered over him. "Are they bullying you?" He asked, looking down at the smaller boy. 

"No--no, they... they were just teasing," Steve stuttered, a blush coming onto his face. Bucky knew he was lying. There was no denying the fact that the bruises that littered his body were caused by those boys. The scrapes on his knees, the cuts on his hands. They were never just "teasing".

"Those assholes," he whispered to himself, clenching his fists. He pointed at Steve, "You stay here, don't move a muscle. I'm just going over to talk with them."

Steve smiled fondly at the memory. That day, Bucky had beaten his bullies to a pulp. No fatal injuries to any of them, but it was enough that told them to back off. Everyone in the school afterward suddenly knew a new piece of information: don't mess with little Steve Rogers, or else you'll get it from James Barnes. Bucky had always provided Steve with protection and friendship, which Steve's mother had adored Bucky for. If she was still alive, the blond was sure that she would still have him come to dinner every month or so and go watch a movie. He missed that more than anything.

"It was no one, Buck. It's just... I might be kicked off the football team. My grades suck and even Coach is getting onto me for it," Steve explained, Bucky listening intently to his words. "I was just outside of his office in the hallway when Tony freaking Stark walks up to me." Steve closed his eyes, laying his head back on his pillow. He remembered those exact moments vividly. The stupid smirk on Tony's face, the smile on his lips when he had said yes. Except for one thing: Steve didn't regret it yet, which was surprising.

" And ?"

"He had obviously been eavesdropping and gave me some stupid offer. He told me that he would tutor me in whatever class I needed it for, only if I agreed to show up to some charity event to impress his dad. Tony even said he would get the suit for me!" He let out a long breath, running his hands through his hair for what seemed like the hundredth time that night. The whole situation made him nervous. "It's just... weird. I don't know how to explain it in a way that makes sense."

"Did you agree? I mean, he is hot," Bucky responded, grinning. Steve rolled his eyes.

"Tell that to Sam."

They had been dating for months now.

"Did you or did you not agree?" He persisted. "I would've said yes in a heartbeat, honestly. Imagine it, Stevie. You get to go on a date --"

"--it's not a date,"  Steve interrupted, blushing. It wasn't a date. Why would it be? The small voice in the back of his head said something else: Could it be?

"You get to go on a date with Tony Stark!" He exclaimed, smiling as he looked over at Steve. "So tell me, and tell me the truth, did you agree?"

" Maybe,"  the blond responded in a whisper. "Look, it's not that big of a deal. Tony will probably ditch me halfway through anyway, you know how it is with people like him. Obsess about it all you want, but I'm going to bed."

But would Tony be the same way with him? He desperately wanted it to end out differently than how it had ended for all the others. 

Bucky only laughed at him, before lifting up the covers and laying down in his bed once again. "You're a punk."

"And you're a jerk."

☆

Steve skimmed through his closet in a hurry, eyes scanning around in hopes of finding an acceptable outfit to wear to his tutoring session with Tony. It wasn't even like the brunet care about what he looked like, but the blond nonetheless wanted to look presentable. All of his t-shirts and collared shirts were definitely out of the picture, which only left his small collection of sweaters. He grabbed his two favorites off of their hangers and held them up to show to Bucky, who sat across the room texting someone furiously on his phone. One was an off-white color but very comfortable, and the other was light blue, but not as comfortable. He loved them both dearly. 

"Bucky?" He asked in hopes to grab his attention. "Which sweater, blue or white?"

His head popped up, a sudden look of disgust coming onto his face. "A sweater? Those sweaters? Stevie, no--"

"If you don't pick one of them I'll pick myself," Steve threatened, raising an eyebrow.

Bucky sighed in defeat. "The white one."

Steve put the blue one back on its hanger and back into the closet and tugged his shirt off over his head. He threw the shirt on his bed, telling himself that he would pick it up later. (Which was definitely not going to happen.) Fitting his arms through the sleeves and pulling it over his chest, Steve realized again for the thousandth time exactly how comfortable this sweater was. Bucky seemed to hate every sweater he had ever owned in his lifetime, though. If only his friend knew about the amazing benefits it came with.

"Should I dry my hair?" Steve asked, scrunching his nose. After football practice had ended for the day, Steve had gotten caught up talking to some teammates. He got to his shared dorm later than expected and showered in a hurry. The library was a short walk from where he was, but he still wanted to be a little early. Who knew what time Tony would arrive? He didn't know if the brunet was a late or early type of guy. 

Tony. Steve fought the smile that he felt coming onto his face.

"Definitely," his friend responded, his attention not even directed to him. He was texting Sam. But it didn't exactly matter to Steve at the moment, he would dry it anyways. "Also, Sam is coming over later with some Italian food. Will you be back in time for that?"

"I mean, if you and Sam  want  me to be gone then your wish is my command." Steve held back a laugh and grabbed a towel from the rack in their bathroom. Even from there, he could hear Bucky choke on his own spit. "But it depends on what time he will be coming over. I shouldn't be gone later than nine or so."

"That's fine with me," he finally said. "Be careful, okay?"

"I'm literally going to the library. How am I going to get hurt?" 

"Your feelings. Guys like Tony--"

"Do you have to bring this up now?" Steve let out a sigh. "I'm already cautious about it. He's not even gay."

"You don't know that," Bucky said with an innocent shrug. 

"It's Tony." Steve looked down at his phone, the screen telling him that it was already five-fifty. "I have to go, I'll see you and Sam later tonight."

☆

The library was quiet as usual when Steve arrived there five minutes later. Only a couple of students occupied some tables by themselves, studying for upcoming tests or scrolling mindlessly through their phones. After looking around, Steve spotted a table on the far left corner with a window view of he school garden and made his way to sit over there before anyone else could take the spot. Not like they would, anyway. Hopefully Tony wouldn't mind this spot too much, Steve just had an everlasting love for pretty gardens.

The blond sat at that table waiting patiently for Tony to arrive. His head would pop up expectantly when the door opened with a sudden gust of air, only to see that it was just another face of another student that he didn't know. The minutes seemed to pass by ever so slowly, and Steve had never been so bored. He ended up giving some of the floor tiles names and even created fake storylines for the people that sat around him. The girl with an afro across the room, which he had named Amelia, was from Poland and had a strong accent. A boy who was looking at the books in the nonfiction section had been named Jamie, who came to college wanting to be a book author.

Five fifty-five had suddenly turned into seven o'clock. Had Tony really stood him up to a tutoring session? With no notice beforehand? Wow.

"Yeah, yeah," Steve muttered to himself, "Of course I can't be late, but he can." The thought of Tony never showing up made him a bit upset, he didn't want to believe that theory just yet. He didn't want to believe the rumors of Tony standing up girls on dates or people at parties. 

The door to the library opened, and a disheveled looking Tony walked through, scanning the room. Girl's heads turned as he walked in, but he paid them no attention. Steve raised his hand at him and waved, and he came over immediately.

"Hi, hi, sorry I'm late and all that. Lab emergency." His shirt had a coffee stain on it and the rest of his clothes looked wrinkled. Tony's hair was everywhere, as he tried to tame it by running his hands through his hair. 

"I've been waiting here for-- you know what?" Steve knew he couldn't be angry at him forever. Lab emergencies happened. (With people like him, anyway.) "Never mind. Let's just get started." Bucky would probably call the cops if he didn't show up by nine. That's an exaggeration, but he would still probably be worried.

"Hold on--" Tony smirked, "Did the infamously stubborn Steve Rogers just give up a fight?"

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Unlike you, Stark," he pointed his finger at Tony, "I can't pay my way through college--"

"Funny." Tony was a bit hurt by the comment, but it was true. He could pay his way out of college if he wanted to.

"--so being on the football team is the only thing keeping me enrolled. I really need to get the best grades I can."

Bad grades, no football team. No football team, no college. No college, then what? A lifetime of working from store to store, paycheck to paycheck? Nowadays, no good jobs were available without a degree. Unless he became a model or an actor, which those two options were definitely already out of the picture. He was definitely too awkward in film and stiff on camera. 

"You really are more than just a pretty face, huh, Rogers?" 

He blushed, trying to discreetly hide his face beneath his hands. Did Tony really think that he had a pretty face? "Whatever," he spat out. "Can we do Stats now?"

"Yeah, easy, let's go."

☆

The tutoring session went well, unlike how Steve had thought it would go originally. He imagined Tony getting angered at him for not understanding simple topics, but it was quite the opposite. Tony was extremely patient, always going in-depth and allowing him to ask questions whenever he wanted to. By the time they were done, the library had cleared out except for them, the librarian, and two more students at the most. 

"I... actually understand math. I understand math," he whispered, disbelief coating his words. "Wow. How the heck did you--"

"Did you seriously just say heck?" Tony shook his head, smiling at the blond. "Anyways, catch up, Rogers. I'm a genius. I'll never tell my secrets."

To say that Tony was simply just a genius was an understatement. He had been in multiple magazines for his discoveries and inventions while working at the side of his father. Tony had been interviewed many times and had even written articles on some of his studies. Steve only wished he could be that smart. Teachers all around the campus adored Tony. Steve also wished that he could say that same about teachers' attitudes towards him.

" Oh ?" Steve responded, raising an eyebrow. "Could I get just one secret's answers from him?"

"If he thinks it's okay to answer."

"First, though, stop talking about yourself in third person or this whole thing is off."

"Hard bargain, Rogers. But sure."  Thank god.

"But... why-- why can't you bring someone else to those galas? I'm nothing... special. You're around much more special people."

Steve was sure of the fact that the brunet had met many impressive men and women in his lifetime. They were rich, too, and more likely to impress his father. The choice to ask Steve was out of place. He didn't understand.

"Oh, you think so?" Tony asked, bringing his face closer to Steve's, smiling. "Who should I have brought then?"

"Tiberius Stone? Sunset Bain? I don't know! Just... why me?"

At least Sunset and Tiberius were somewhat successful.

"You have... you -- don't let this get to your head -- are extremely charming, handsome, and polite. Surprisingly funny, too. And you're all around just -- I don't know, Rogers, okay? You were just... my best bet."

An awkward silence fell between the two. They stared at each other, smiling like idiots. Something had changed, that was for sure.

Steve looked at Tony, "You're not as bad as I thought, either."

"I--  Right ." Steve had sworn he saw a red on his face, but Tony looked away before he could make sure of it. "Thanks. I think."

"Right back at you."

☆

"This movie sucks," Sam complained, stuffing pasta into his mouth. "How could anyone enjoy this?"

Sam and Bucky sat smushed together on the couch, while Steve -- who didn't want to be the third wheel -- had offered to sit on the floor while they watched Netflix. Steve would've complained about the floor being dirty and the end of the couch hurting his back, but the food Sam had brought had erased those thoughts from his mind. 

The movie was some romcom that Bucky had decided would be good to watch. Steve had arrived after it started playing, but it didn't really matter. It was about some girl in New York City who had wanted to become famous but met a guy who taught her that fame didn't matter and love did. Currently, the girl and this boy were on their first date at a park. Steve could basically predict the ending from there: after the first date, there would be some sort of conflict. The two wouldn't talk for a while before they both decided to see each other one last time. When they talk, they realize it was all a big misunderstanding and that they both love each other. He was dying to see if he was right or not.

"Its a perfectly enjoyable movie," Bucky responded, smacking Sam on the arm. "And don't talk with your mouth full, it's disgusting. Right, Steve?"

"Don't be gross Sam," Steve agreed with a smile.

"Bucky, your bun is atrocious, so you can't say shit."

"My bun had absolutely nothing to do with the conversation at hand. And I think my bun is rather cute, so if you would back off--"

Before their argument turned into a food fight, Steve stood up and went to their small kitchen to get some water. The fridge was three feet tall and the sink sometimes didn't work. At least they had a kitchen, to begin with. Since it was an open floor plan, Steve could still hear every word Sam and Bucky were saying to each other. They always had little meaningless arguments like this. But they did both love each other a lot. The two were just very stubborn. Very.

There was a knock at the door.

"Steve, could you get that?" Bucky asked. "Hey-- stop that--"

The blond went to the door, opening it without checking through the peephole first. If a murderer were to come into their dorm, he was sure that they wouldn't knock first. But no one was there. And on the floor, was a medium-sized box with a bow on it. He leaned down to pick it up and carried it back inside. Steve put the box on the kitchen counter, spotting the tag on the side. He grabbed it carefully, reading the handwriting on the inside.

Tomorrow. I'll pick you up at 8. Be ready. -- Tony.

He slipped the note in his pocket and began to remove the bow from the package. He removed the top, only to see the suit sitting inside.

"What is it, Steve?" Bucky questioned, pushing Sam away from him. "Sam! I swear to god-- stop! -- Sam! The pasta is on my thighs!"

Steve laughed at the two before responding. "Just some package, nothing important."

Like the night before, there was only one thought on his mind: Tony.

Would this cycle ever end?