Chapter Text
"Listen Buck, it'll be nice. Sam says it's a good restaurant." Steve said.
"I haven't been to a restaurant since 1943, this is all sort of...new to me." Bucky replied, looking at his best friend. "And it's not the food I'm worried about."
Steve gave him a reassuring smile and squeezed his shoulder, "You'll be fine."
They were walking side by side towards the restaurant. Steve had thought it would do Bucky good to get out of the apartment for a while and see some real life people that weren't him and Sam. Bucky was reluctant at first, afraid that someone may recognise him or that his arm would gain unwanted attention. But they came to a compromise when Steve said he could cover his arm up and they'd just have a main course and be out of there.
As they drew closer to the restaurant they saw Sam waiting outside, hands in his pockets. He was dressed smartly in a white shirt and navy blazer and his black shoes were shined within an inch of their life. Panic shot through Bucky, he didn't realise he'd need to get dressed up, nothing he was wearing seemed to match this place, for one he was wearing a black hoodie.
"You never said it was a fancy place." Bucky said, as he stopped walking abruptly.
Steve looked back to see he'd stopped. Panic was written all over his face and he saw his jaw move as he ground his teeth together nervously.
"It isn't that fancy." Steve reassured him. "Sam just likes to look his best. I'm not dressed up, see?"
He motioned to his checkered shirt and jeans. Admittedly he wasn't dressed up but he did look like he'd made more of an effort than Buck. The ex assassin shuffled his feet nervously as if he was thinking about turning around and making a run for it.
"I promise it'll be fine." Steve said, walking back over to him and patting him on his back, "You'll see."
Steve smiled at him, Bucky didn't return it but he continued to walk towards the restaurant again.
~~
'Not that fancy?' Bucky thought and shook his head at Steve's remark from earlier. 'This is probably the fanciest place in New York.'
The first thing that he'd seen upon entering the place was a giant chandelier hanging from the tall ceiling, giving everything in the entrance hall a golden glow. The Maître d' showed them to their reserved table, after silently judging Bucky's choice of clothing. It was tucked away in a corner so not many people would be able to see them. The room itself was huge and lit by another chandelier. They took their seats at their table, taking note of how extravagant everything was and the tall vase of beautiful flowers in the centre of the table.
Bucky's attention drifted to the table next to him. It was a two seater with man and a woman sat facing each other. The man he didn't pay much attention too at first, but the woman was so beautiful it was impossible not to look at her. Her (H/C) hair was loose and she kept tucking a few annoying strands behind her ear, her (E/C) eyes were bright, her (S/C) skin seemed flawless and her lips were painted a beautiful red shade. His eyes lingered on her for longer than was normal and he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to kis-
"Bucky!"
Bucky snapped his head round to look at Steve innocently, "What?"
"For the third time, what do you want to eat?"
"Uh, I don't know. Anything." He shrugged, his closed menu lay in front of him and his eyes flickered involuntarily to the girl again.
This didn't go unnoticed by Sam who smirked and rested his chin on top of his hands.
"You alright Bucky? Your face is red." He said raising his brows at him.
Bucky looked at him and scowled but it had less effect than he would've liked as his cheeks darkened simultaneously. He knew what Wilson was up to.
"He's right, you do look hot Buck." Steve said, oblivious to what was going on. "Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine." Bucky said through gritted teeth, and opened his menu.
Once he'd decided on what to have, and given his order to the waiter, he took the opportunity to glance at the woman again. This time he was surprised to notice that she look incredibly bored. He looked at the man who was stuffing his face and seemed to be waffling on about something at the same time. Did this man not know how to treat a woman?!
Suddenly she caught Bucky's eye and for a moment they stared at each other, until Bucky looked away in embarrassment only to see Sam wink at him knowingly.