Those Who Fall: Falling Series 3 (Modern Domestic Stucky AU)

Forty

With the valet taking their car, Bucky helped Steve up the steps of the posh hotel. It was always weird seeing the many bodyguards guarding the entrances to the lavish ballroom each year. But Steve understood that when one was a beloved, award winning, Broadway star such as Natalia Romanova, certain measures needed to be taken. Especially with the paparazzi that hung around like vultures just waiting to get a picture of some of the famous guests.

Giving Bucky's hand a squeeze, Steve stuck close to his husband as they approached one of the large, muscular men. Bucky, ever the cool, calm, and confident, he effortlessly approached them and gave the man their names. Since Steve and Bucky had remained close friends with Nattie through the years, their names were always at the top of the list, and thankfully, it didn't take long for the man to find them and allow them entrance.

As a rule, it was never wise to underestimate Natasha. Yet, Steve was still in awe as he took in the spooktacular decorated ballroom. He couldn't help but let out a low whistle under the loud music and say to himself, "Wow."

Bucky started nodding in time with the upbeat pop song and leaned over to question over the music, "YOU WANT SOMETHING TO DRINK?"

Looking over at the bar, Steve debated it for a moment. Usually, he didn't drink when he was this anxious. But he needed something to calm his still flustered nerves, and it seemed like a shame to not celebrate his favorite holiday. So, Steve agreed, "APPLE MARTINI!"

Nodding, Bucky pressed a kiss to Steve's temple before making his way to the other side of the ballroom. Left there by himself, Steve looked around for someone he recognized. Well, someone who he knew personally. More specifically, someone who had been in his life for the past seventeen years.

Which, admittedly, would be easier if it wasn't a Halloween party.

Eyes scanning the elaborate room, Steve was approached by a server dressed as a skimpy vampire holding a tray with red shots in syringes. Steve had to hand it to Natasha to keeping a theme. Smiling, he accepted one of the shots and quickly squirted it down his throat.

Slightly wincing from the way the alcohol hit, Steve thanked the server and watched as he moved onto someone else. Returning his attention to the other party goers, Steve really tried to find his friends. Not caring in that moment which one he found, just hoping that he found them.

"HI!"

Jerking as he did when Sarah and the kids scared him, Steve turned to find a muscular man in a Tinkerbell costume. He had a toothy grin on his face and unabashedly checked Steve out. When he brought his gaze back to Steve's eyes, the man bit back his grin and quirked a brow. Clearly insinuating that since they had a couple's costume, they should...?

"GILMORE HODGE," the man introduced himself over the music, so Steve would be able to hear him.

A bright green, smoking drink came into view and an arm wrapped around his waist. Steve looked over to find Bucky. Only then did Steve take the drink, and was glad when he was rewarded with a sweet kiss. It didn't evade Steve that the kiss was a good way to get the point across to Tinkerbell that Peter Pan was spoken for.

For a moment, Gilmore Hodge looked from Steve to Bucky a couple of times. Steve distracted himself by taking a drink of the apple martini while Bucky pulled him even closer. Eventually -- slower than Steve had wanted -- Gilmore Hodge left.

As Steve took another drink of his alcoholic beverage, Bucky turned him so they were facing each other. When Bucky possessively wrapped his arms around his waist, Steve smirked to himself and took another drink of the green apple cocktail. It wasn't often that Bucky got jealous, but Steve would be lying if he claimed he didn't like the way Bucky held him when he was.

Leaning forward, Bucky's lips brushed Steve's ear as he said, "I FOUND SAM!"

Nodding, Steve grasped Bucky's hand and closely followed the brunet. All the while, sipping on his drink. Which, Steve had to admit, was delicious. Already knowing that he wanted another one.

Reaching one of the tables, Bucky warmly greeted Natasha's bodyguard, Happy, and entered the roped off area with Steve smiling up at the man in his Zootopia, Officer Clawhauser costume. Since they were further away from the speakers, Steve didn't have to yell as he complimented, "A+ this year!"

"Now ya gotta vote for me," Happy joked as he replaced the rope.

Steve crossed his heart and tripped over his feet as he took a seat on the deep velvet purple booth seats beside his husband. Across from them, Sam sat and Steve couldn't help but geek out at his costume. But who wouldn't when Max Goof, the absolute legend from the woefully underrated A Goofy Movie, was sitting across from him with his beloved, expecting Roxanne beside him.

"Who picked the costumes?" Steve eagerly asked.

Sam's wife, Monica, pointed at Sam while she rubbed her pregnant belly and clarified, "He keeps trying to get Len to watch it, but you know how toddlers are."

"Yeah, you might want to wait a couple years before he can appreciate the true brilliance of the film," Bucky advised.

Before Steve could ask how Monica was doing, a zombie waitress walked up to them with a tray of odd looking shots. The more Steve looked at them, the more they looked like they had pieces of brains floating in them. But when in Rome...

Taking the shot, Steve was about to drink it but Sam and Bucky took one each, so Steve waited. As Monica lifted her glass of ginger ale, the four of them toasted for a good night. Although the texture of the shot was gross, the flavor was rather tasty.

"Brains," the zombie waitress exaggerated, turning and leaving their area.

Steve couldn't help but smile. Especially when the host herself slinked over to them in Jessica Rabbit's signature red sequined gown. And, of course, why wouldn't Natasha be dressed as the impressive, sensual cartoon?

"Didn't you get the memo?" Bucky teased, "This is a costume party!"

Playfully, Nat narrowed her eyes and flipped him off in her purple evening gloves that went just above her elbow. As she sat down on the seat beside Steve, she gave his thigh a comforting squeeze.

Then, because it was Nat, she pinched at Steve's green tights and complimented, "Look at you, Mr. Pan. Trying to steal the spotlight?"

"From the one and only Natalia Romanova?" Steve smirked, using her stage name, and took another drink, "Not possible."

"Oh, please," Natasha teased bumping her shoulder against his, "You're a stunner, Stevie, and it's about fucking time you faced it."

"Damn right!" Bucky loudly agreed, wrapping his arm around his husband's shoulders and giving his cheek a loud, wet kiss.

And for the first time since he found Brock sitting in that office, Steve felt like he could relax. So, he finished his drink and cozied up to Bucky while a round of eyeball shaped Jell-O shots were served by a gorgeous Medusa Drag Queen. Just like before, Steve, Bucky, and Sam gladly took one. Only this time, Nat was there to join in and even took an extra one in Monica's honor.