Mistletoe
Steve/Bruce
Steve has an assignment due and no inspiration.
Steve is trying very hard not to scream or turn into a scrooge but honestly, his friends are driving him up the wall. Today was supposed to just be about decorating the house and baking some cookies. Simple maybe a few hours decorating lunch then baking and then everyone goes home that’s not paying rent for the house. No, it had turned into an all event and he still had school work to do before tomorrow.
“Oh, it’s easy Steve just draw some fruit and you’re set right?”
“Oh, Steve stop being a downer and join the fun. You can sketch quick enough can’t ya?”
There’s a difference between sketching a mess picture to get an idea and making a charcoal sketch to turn in for a grade. He hasn’t even gotten a rough draft of the sketch he wants to do, nor has he found anything worth sketching for the assignment. It’s due in a few days and he hasn’t even picked up the pencil for it yet. He was hoping after this holiday decorating gathering, he would have gotten some inspiration but nothing yet.
He was starting to feel the itch under his skin. His chest was becoming tight but not because of his blasted asthma. He needed to find something to draw and fast. It was holiday time and the teacher didn’t care what it was as long as it was charcoal and followed the theme “Breathless” which could be anything except kissing. Most of the class had groaned at the thought but Steve was intrigued “Breathless” could have been easily done. He could have just sketched his inhaler but how lame was that?
He sighs hanging one of the bulbs on the tree lost in thought. Mostly thoughts of failing his Drawing II class and having to repeat it in the spring.
“Penny for your thoughts,” smiles Bruce holding out a dirty penny in front of his face.
Steve must have given him a disgusted look as the poor man begins to fluster and fidget. “Oh sorry…so just trying to cheer you up. Unless that’s not what you want.”
Steve sighs. It’s not this guy’s fault oh what’s his name again? One of Tony’s lab partners or partners in crime more likely. The owlish boy pushes his glasses up his face and Steve offers a small smile.
“I’m just going to fail my art class. Not a big deal,” he says playing the over dramatic art student. The guy in front of him doesn’t fall for it and grins.
“Really all you have to do is draw something. Not that I can talk about drawing much. I can draw Structural formulas, but I don’t think that would count for you.”
“Not at all whatever those are,” he shrugs taking another bulb to place.
“Hey um Steve why don’t we get some eggnog? It could uh help having a break. Plus, Sam made it, so you know it’s going to be good and not taste too sweet,” he smiles.
“Right because putting up bulbs is such hard work,” he grumbles.
Bruce just shrugs, “well it could be if you’re an interior decorator but you’re not so drinks?”
“Sure, why not,” he says following the brown curly haired boy to the kitchen. He doesn’t want to be rude to the guy, but he’s just not interested in talking. Really what could he have in common with a smart guy like…whoever he is. He’s one of Tony’s friends and they seem to talk endlessly science jargon all the time so why talk to him? Maybe he’s just being mopey and falling into the stereotype of the woe is me art student.
The man offers him a glass of eggnog and he sips it smiling. Sam sure knows how to cook even if it’s just throwing in a few secret ingredients to make eggnog. It’s really good he almost hums in enjoyment.
Bruce laughs, “ha knew you would like it he makes the best doesn’t he,” Bruce says heading back to the living room when someone ooo’s and ahhh’s come from their friends.
“Ooo Steve is under the mistletoe who’s going to kiss him,” teases Bucky.
Steve looks up from his drink. Above his head is a mistletoe a cheaply made plastic mistletoe but one all the same.
“No one,” he says blushing. “No one has to,” he says as Bucky nudges him looking over at his boyfriend Sam who just mouths to leave Steve alone.
Suddenly without warning, Steve feels a pair of sticky lips against his own along with silence from his friends. Holy shit does this feel good he drops the plastic cup of eggnog and kisses the person back opening his eyes seeing freckles along the person’s cheeks along with a deep blush. He pulls back tasting the sweetness from the eggnog and feelings the stickiness of the kiss on his lips. He looks at the man he can’t think of his name and just stands there speechless breathless watching the blushing man with glasses walk out the door.
Holy fuck what was that?! Who was that?!
And then it hits him.
Eggnog and mistletoe can leave you “Breathless”.