Troublesome

Tony was in the changing room getting ready for his night shift at the bar when he came in. Bucky Barnes. The hot but antisocial coworker of his. It was like any other night at the bar with the two of them starting their shift by meeting in the changing room silently doing their own thing like always.

But it was different that night. That night Barnes had confessed to him saying, “You know, I like you.” And he said it as if he was just stating something like a fact and making Tony stare at him in complete and utter surprise as the guy simply continued to get dress and then proceeded to walk out the room, not even waiting for a reply as Tony only managed an, “…Excuse me?”

And that was a week ago.

Tony and some of his co-workers were currently enjoying their break in the back room of the bar when one of them heard someone saying ‘Bye’ to the customers. Tony glanced outside the half-opened door to see that it was Barnes.

“Did someone just pass by?”. Sam asked.

“Barnes”. Tony replied humming into his coffee cup.

“Huh? Oh, the one the women call a ‘hottie’. Tony, do you talk to him much?”, he asked to which Tony replied he didn’t. Sam then asked around if any of the others talked to Barnes but everyone says that they didn’t or that they only ever talked when they greeted each other.

“You know my friends, our James doesn’t really talk much”. Thor told them as he dig into his food which was a huge hamburger with fries on the side. The guy sure has an appetite. Tony felt like he was always eating every time he got a break. Where did all those food go?

“I’ve never seen him have a normal conversation with anyone”, Clint said exasperated to which another person retorts that he hadn’t even seen him talk for that matter and that he was hard to approach.

“He has an amazing ‘Don’t talk to me aura’ ”, Rhodey pipped in as he did his assignments. It really helps him get it done faster when he does it during breaks. Such a hard worker as always.

“Yeah, I know what you mean. He comes right before his shift and leaves right after, so it’s hard to find a chance”, Steve added. He had seen Bucky around the college campus but since their major weren’t the same it was hard to even try and befriend him. He was always found alone.

Tony silently listened to them chat among themselves, feeling too sleepy to take part in it. He eventually decided to go out and get back to work. He had to work another hour or so and then he’ll finally be done for the night.

James Bucky Barnes.

He’s one or two years younger than Tony. Attending the same university as Steve but Tony didn’t think their majors are the same. He’s what you’d call a ‘hottie’. He didn’t know his favorite sports. He didn’t know his favorite food. He didn’t know where he lives. He haven’t seen him laugh much, have never would be more accurate. To put it simply, he’s an antisocial guy. Tony also didn’t know his close friends. In summary he didn’t know anything about him. He hasn’t even talked to him much. The only thing he really knows is how good looking he is.

Then, someone like him…Why me?. Tony thought to himself, perplexed as he watched Barnes working diligently with minimum interaction with the customers. He quickly looked away when his gaze met Barnes’ and continued to serve the customers with a smile. Focusing only on doing his job after that.

It was almost midnight now as his shift for the night came to an end. Friends whose shift ended as well went home together as they greeted the rest of them goodnight. Tony also said his goodbye to his friends and was about to go and change out of his work clothes when Clint ran up to him already in his casual wear.

“Tony! You know that DVD you lent me? Can I give it back tomorrow? My girlfriend’s coming over and wants to watch it together”, he told him with a sheepish grin.

“Yeah. Doesn’t matter. As long as you give it back, Clint. It’s one of my precious movie collections. There’ll be consequences, man. Consequences” Tony warned with a playful smirk.

“Thanks, man. You’re awesome. See ya~”. With that Clint ran out the bar with full speed. Guessed he couldn’t wait to go home and get some good night rest as well.

Tony let out a small sigh as he rubbed on his shoulders, feeling a bit stiff around that area. He opened the door to change when he saw Barnes was there as well currently in the middle of it. He wordlessly went over to his locker located four lockers away from Barnes’ and proceeded to do the same.

But as he took off his shirt he can’t help stealing a glance at the taller man as he was busy buttoning up his shirt.

“Nothing’s happened after that. Like really. Nothing’s happening. Wait. That was a confession, right? Or was it just my imagination? It would be pretty weird for me to imagine something like that though. And it did sound like a love confession to me”, Tony thought. “But seriously, if you like someone wouldn’t you usually …try to appeal to them? Am I wrong? I’ve never made a confession so I wouldn’t know. But really, nothings’ happened since then. Every time I walk by him I have to laugh. When we meet, it’s ‘Hello’. When we leave its ‘Later’. That’s the only thing we’ve been doing. Anyway is this guy gay? What a waste! He’s such a hottie! ...Or maybe he’s just making fun of me. I took it seriously since he doesn’t seem like the type to joke around. But maybe he’s laughing at my reaction”

“Hey…”

Or maybe…

“Hey!”, Bucky yelled with an annoyed expression making Tony jumped in surprise.

“Whoa. Yeah, what is it?”

“Could you stop peeking at me?”, he told him, “And maybe hurry up changing. You’re too slow”

Tony squinted his eyes, glaring at him. “It’s cause you …since then…”

“Huh?”

“Nevermind…”. Tony bit out, annoyed. If Barnes doesn’t care enough to remember then why should he? He should also just forget about it.

“Oh, that reminds me. I’m still waiting for your answer”, Bucky stated in a serious manner making Tony choke on air. After managing to grab a bottle of water from his locker and calming down he asked, “About what?”

Bucky raised his eyebrow, unimpressed. “The thing I said last week. Don’t tell me you already forgot?”

“No, I mean…”, he started but was cut off by Barnes saying,
“That’s cruel. To my first and last confession in life…”, with a deep sigh. Tony was about to retort a reply when the owner of the bar, Fury came in. “You two are still here? Go home already. I don’t want you loitering around here when your shifts are over”, he told them. Barnes nodded in reply and grabbing a jacket he left the room leaving a confuse brunet behind.

Again? Didn’t he say he wanted my reply?! The hell did he just leave like that.

Tony opened the door to his apartment he shared with Bruce who went to the same university as him. “I’m back”, he said as he went in. Bruce, who was still up doing one of his research projects, greeted him welcome. He had a warm blanket wrapped around himself. Night times in New York are quite cold these days.

“How was work today?”, he asked with a tired smile. “And you’re kinda late.”, he added.

“I got lost”, Tony replied falling face down on his bed with a groan.

“But this is your house”. Bruce said a matter of fact.

“I mean in life”. Tony corrected.

“Was work hard? It’s only Monday though”

“No, work wasn’t hard. Or actually it was. Yeah, it definitely was”. It’s all because of a certain grouchy guy that his time at work had become really tiresome than before. If the guy wasn’t going to do anything after confessing then why bother confessing at all in the first place? Now he’s the one getting all worked up on it instead. How troublesome.

“Is that so?”, Bruce says as he continues writing down notes on paper. Tony went to the fridge, took out a leftover burrito and warmed it up in the microwave. He then took a seat next to Bruce’s table and ate his midnight snack, offering some to him which the guy declined with a smile.

He thought back to the events that happened earlier and started to feel frustrated all over again. “Argh, what should I do?”, he groaned out.

“It’s really late so warm up and go to bed, Tony”. Bruce told him. Tony agreed and did just that. He was too tired to do anything else.