[It's a date. A real one. Not one of their usual endless hangout sessions- not that he doesn't appreciate those. Not that he doesn't enjoy those. And maybe has definitely gotten a little attached to them. He doesn't have a grand open-door policy for anyone, really. Some people have codes to the lab and can come and go, but for Bucky, yes, the door has somehow seemed to remain continually open.
It's been a somewhat wild and unexpected ride. Anyone who knows him a little too well might have questioned by now what the hell he's doing. But really, what the hell has he ever been doing? There's probably a lot of commentary that goes well hand in hand with the fact that Tony's never known to make the healthiest choices.
But if pursuing Bucky, after all their time spent together, is wrong, he doesn't particularly care about being right. After all, once he sets his sights on something he wants, he often doesn't falter. And more often than that makes it to the finish line. But this isn't a game of pretend-courting just to entice Bucky to bed. Maybe the early onset casual flirting had made it seem that way, but it had quickly and maybe a little too easily morphed into something else entirely.
Long nights of vulnerability, of being seen. Of talks that maybe weren't always comfortable but were at least always worth it. He's nursing way more than just some banal crush on Bucky. And he wants to at least have a chance at seeing it through. And so...
Yes. It's a date. To perhaps a too-upscale sushi restaurant. Where he's gotten them a table in the back, and maybe has one or two security measures in place to keep this from becoming a headline tomorrow. Because he wants Bucky to himself, and he also doesn't want to scare him away. Every step in his life, especially after the snap- then the other one- has only propelled him to higher and higher heights in the world of social fascination and commentary. Not always adoring. Mistakes on grand public display. A lot of people have no idea who he really is, and he likes it that way. But he's been trying very hard as of late to give Bucky the knowledge of exactly who he is. No matter how uncomfortable it's been at times.
He wouldn't trade it for anything.
So he breaks out one of the expensive sports cars with the Stark vanity plates, he gets into a fitted, gorgeous, and also entirely too expensive three-piece suit. Drives himself to Bucky's current apartment building and thinks about texting him to let him know to come downstairs. But he's trying to do this right. So instead he idles on the curb and gets out of the car- thinks about letting himself into the building where it'd only be so easy to do and then...
Instead buzzes Bucky's apartment from the intercom.]
I think I managed to be right on time. [Said into the box while he's still got his finger on the button.]
( it's surprising how far things have come, in more ways than one, and the proverbial foot drop he's waited on for months never quite seems to arrive. for however much they've stumbled over the time passed, nothing really sits ill between them for long, and somehow they've managed to talk through everything properly, despite the hangups they both have over one thing or another. odd how that's worked, particularly knowing who tony is and understanding too that he wouldn't do that for just anyone.
the soldier has difficulty shaking the idea there has to be something thoroughly wrong with him still, between the things in his head he still can't get over and the overwhelming need to make up for his crimes committed as hydra's pet dog. the drive has certainly put him in more difficult situations than he'd like to admit aloud, times even when he'd needed help and had the presence enough to call anyone at all for it. that tony never held it against him, even commiserated in his own way, made bucky feel a little less broken and a little more sure.
after the trial run of bucky sitting pretty in the lab, it's probably not surprising they've finally reached the point of properly going out, especially with all the patience tony has already given, the wide berth by which their entire relationship seems to hover comfortably at and still never quite suffers for. if anything, the space has made things stronger, and bucky isn't even sure if that's simply the measure of how a relationship should be done now, for him, or if it just happened to be what they both needed too.
a date feels so hefty though. there are a lot of expectations with that word, and bucky can't help but feel nervous anyway, regardless of all the times they've already shared meals and spent time together. what if he finally says the wrong thing? does the wrong thing?
god, when did ties start feeling so stifling, though? he's pacing a bit, between the bathroom to check his appearance for the millionth time and peeking out the window of the balcony door. the highly treasured fidget cube that's remained on his person as much as possible doesn't quite fit into the coat pocket and sits lonely on the kitchen counter. he's never quite needed it while spending time in tony's lab, so maybe it'll be okay as long as tony is with him, right? yeah, that's definitely why he's pacing. it's just that tony isn't here yet and not at all because—
he hears the telltale rumble of a sport engine, richer than anything far cheaper, and floats swiftly toward the balcony again, as if he can't already guess and seeing will help his nerves. it really doesn't, especially when tony seems to hover uncertainly near the vehicle and all bucky can do is stare and wonder why. while he's still questioning, the buzz comes in on his intercom, and he's trotting back toward the wall near the front door to answer. this is silly. he's being silly. everything's fine. this is fine.
a swift glance to his watch says tony actually did arrive pretty much on the dot. )
Is that bad? ( the click that comes after, of the mic button switching off, seems to beg a response, but quickly after there's another click as bucky speaks again. ) On my way.
( after he reaches up to brush his hair back again, as if that would help anything other than the gnawing anxiety.
luckily he looks quite polished anyway, wearing a two-piece at all. since he's not expecting much action, he's wearing a thinner set of gloves, mostly out of habit, being anywhere public, but he anticipates tony wouldn't let that interfere with their meal anyway, something to wait on and see. chopsticks aren't particularly easy to use with gloves on, at least.
bucky only realizes he's rushed out the door when he has to slow himself from colliding into tony like a buffoon, stumbling back slightly while offering a sheepish grin. )
Ah— sorry, uh. ( a pause as he takes tony in. the guy really does look good in anything, something he appreciates fondly for a moment as the smile spreads into something far more earnest. ) You look good.
[In the realm of how Tony lives his life, being late for a date is probably a more standard expectation of him. Always caught up in his work which can oftentimes read as overt carelessness. But he made sure not to do that to Bucky. Not tonight. And hopefully not ever, though he's not sure that's a promise he can make.
Thankfully, though, not tonight. Yes. Right on time. Which is not the standard for him.
And maybe when Bucky tells him he's coming down he should step further away from the door, maybe go to the car and just wait, but he just finds himself stuck, hands in his pockets for a moment until he just barely hears the footfalls down the entryway and then the door is opening.
Greeted with the full force of him, having to catch his balance to avoid tumbling further out onto the sidewalk. He lifts a hand to Bucky's arm to steady himself, more than anything, and grins at him after taking him all in.
It's the compliment, though, that catches him a little off guard. It shouldn't. They've been flirting with this idea, and with each other, for a long time now. And he's probably heard every variation anyone could come up with, to tell him similar ideas. But...
For some reason that grin gets a little sheepish, more of a warm smile for a flicker of a moment. Crush is a juvenile word, but it might be the only one he can think of in that moment.]
You clean up good. I knew you would. [Boasting only a little, and only playfully. Finally his hand leaves Bucky's arm so that he can gesture at the car.] I think we'll be on time for the reservation, too.
[Nudging him just a little over to the car where he actually opens Bucky's door for him. On his best behavior tonight, certainly.] Usually places like this expect I'll be fashionably late.
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For Bucky (counterstep)
It's been a somewhat wild and unexpected ride. Anyone who knows him a little too well might have questioned by now what the hell he's doing. But really, what the hell has he ever been doing? There's probably a lot of commentary that goes well hand in hand with the fact that Tony's never known to make the healthiest choices.
But if pursuing Bucky, after all their time spent together, is wrong, he doesn't particularly care about being right. After all, once he sets his sights on something he wants, he often doesn't falter. And more often than that makes it to the finish line. But this isn't a game of pretend-courting just to entice Bucky to bed. Maybe the early onset casual flirting had made it seem that way, but it had quickly and maybe a little too easily morphed into something else entirely.
Long nights of vulnerability, of being seen. Of talks that maybe weren't always comfortable but were at least always worth it. He's nursing way more than just some banal crush on Bucky. And he wants to at least have a chance at seeing it through. And so...
Yes. It's a date. To perhaps a too-upscale sushi restaurant. Where he's gotten them a table in the back, and maybe has one or two security measures in place to keep this from becoming a headline tomorrow. Because he wants Bucky to himself, and he also doesn't want to scare him away. Every step in his life, especially after the snap- then the other one- has only propelled him to higher and higher heights in the world of social fascination and commentary. Not always adoring. Mistakes on grand public display. A lot of people have no idea who he really is, and he likes it that way. But he's been trying very hard as of late to give Bucky the knowledge of exactly who he is. No matter how uncomfortable it's been at times.
He wouldn't trade it for anything.
So he breaks out one of the expensive sports cars with the Stark vanity plates, he gets into a fitted, gorgeous, and also entirely too expensive three-piece suit. Drives himself to Bucky's current apartment building and thinks about texting him to let him know to come downstairs. But he's trying to do this right. So instead he idles on the curb and gets out of the car- thinks about letting himself into the building where it'd only be so easy to do and then...
Instead buzzes Bucky's apartment from the intercom.]
I think I managed to be right on time. [Said into the box while he's still got his finger on the button.]
no subject
the soldier has difficulty shaking the idea there has to be something thoroughly wrong with him still, between the things in his head he still can't get over and the overwhelming need to make up for his crimes committed as hydra's pet dog. the drive has certainly put him in more difficult situations than he'd like to admit aloud, times even when he'd needed help and had the presence enough to call anyone at all for it. that tony never held it against him, even commiserated in his own way, made bucky feel a little less broken and a little more sure.
after the trial run of bucky sitting pretty in the lab, it's probably not surprising they've finally reached the point of properly going out, especially with all the patience tony has already given, the wide berth by which their entire relationship seems to hover comfortably at and still never quite suffers for. if anything, the space has made things stronger, and bucky isn't even sure if that's simply the measure of how a relationship should be done now, for him, or if it just happened to be what they both needed too.
a date feels so hefty though. there are a lot of expectations with that word, and bucky can't help but feel nervous anyway, regardless of all the times they've already shared meals and spent time together. what if he finally says the wrong thing? does the wrong thing?
god, when did ties start feeling so stifling, though? he's pacing a bit, between the bathroom to check his appearance for the millionth time and peeking out the window of the balcony door. the highly treasured fidget cube that's remained on his person as much as possible doesn't quite fit into the coat pocket and sits lonely on the kitchen counter. he's never quite needed it while spending time in tony's lab, so maybe it'll be okay as long as tony is with him, right? yeah, that's definitely why he's pacing. it's just that tony isn't here yet and not at all because—
he hears the telltale rumble of a sport engine, richer than anything far cheaper, and floats swiftly toward the balcony again, as if he can't already guess and seeing will help his nerves. it really doesn't, especially when tony seems to hover uncertainly near the vehicle and all bucky can do is stare and wonder why. while he's still questioning, the buzz comes in on his intercom, and he's trotting back toward the wall near the front door to answer. this is silly. he's being silly. everything's fine. this is fine.
a swift glance to his watch says tony actually did arrive pretty much on the dot. )
Is that bad? ( the click that comes after, of the mic button switching off, seems to beg a response, but quickly after there's another click as bucky speaks again. ) On my way.
( after he reaches up to brush his hair back again, as if that would help anything other than the gnawing anxiety.
luckily he looks quite polished anyway, wearing a two-piece at all. since he's not expecting much action, he's wearing a thinner set of gloves, mostly out of habit, being anywhere public, but he anticipates tony wouldn't let that interfere with their meal anyway, something to wait on and see. chopsticks aren't particularly easy to use with gloves on, at least.
bucky only realizes he's rushed out the door when he has to slow himself from colliding into tony like a buffoon, stumbling back slightly while offering a sheepish grin. )
Ah— sorry, uh. ( a pause as he takes tony in. the guy really does look good in anything, something he appreciates fondly for a moment as the smile spreads into something far more earnest. ) You look good.
( yeah, like tony wouldn't already know. )
no subject
Thankfully, though, not tonight. Yes. Right on time. Which is not the standard for him.
And maybe when Bucky tells him he's coming down he should step further away from the door, maybe go to the car and just wait, but he just finds himself stuck, hands in his pockets for a moment until he just barely hears the footfalls down the entryway and then the door is opening.
Greeted with the full force of him, having to catch his balance to avoid tumbling further out onto the sidewalk. He lifts a hand to Bucky's arm to steady himself, more than anything, and grins at him after taking him all in.
It's the compliment, though, that catches him a little off guard. It shouldn't. They've been flirting with this idea, and with each other, for a long time now. And he's probably heard every variation anyone could come up with, to tell him similar ideas. But...
For some reason that grin gets a little sheepish, more of a warm smile for a flicker of a moment. Crush is a juvenile word, but it might be the only one he can think of in that moment.]
You clean up good. I knew you would. [Boasting only a little, and only playfully. Finally his hand leaves Bucky's arm so that he can gesture at the car.] I think we'll be on time for the reservation, too.
[Nudging him just a little over to the car where he actually opens Bucky's door for him. On his best behavior tonight, certainly.] Usually places like this expect I'll be fashionably late.