find me

16. don't look at me like that

'What happens in the tower, stays in the tower.'

~

Natalie wasn't sure what to expect when she got invited to Stark's party. She knew the guy was a big deal, a genius inventor and billionaire industrialist. She had never been to a real party, let alone a gala in a high-tech glass tower in the middle of Manhattan.

So whatever her expectations might have been, they definitely were going to be exceeded, because she couldn't even imagine going to a party of that magnitude. She sat on her bed, playing with her curls nervously, biting her lip incessantly, staring at the open wardrobe in front of her. She should've gone shopping, but of course she didn't. Always busy with work or daydreaming. Luckily enough, she did have a few dresses that were nice and that could nicely serve for the occasion, but were they Tony Stark's charity ball worthy? Not really.

Eventually, she decided the choice was going to have to be between two. A long silky enveloping black dress, with a deep v cut on the back, or a sequin dark blue short dress, tight on her waist and looser on her hips. She had matching shoes for both of them and matching jewellery, so really all she had to do was choose which one. For some reason though, the clutter of thoughts and anxieties in her head clouded her rational brain and she couldn't pick one for the life of her!

She had been staring at them for almost half an hour, trying to make the decision, when finally she scoffed annoyed at her own indecisiveness and crawled back on her bed, burying her head in some pillows. She felt inadequate, not up to par. Holding one of the big fluffy cushions with her hands, she pressed her face into it, screaming to the top of her lungs, loudly enough to be heard over the muffling effect of the soft cushion.

"Y'okay?" Bucky stood at the door, one half inside the room and one half out, stopping the door with his foot. He had a toothbrush in his mouth and a small white towel in his hand, mindlessly swiping his fresh shaved neck and jaw, while he looked at her worriedly. His chest was bare and a pair of grey sweatpants were hanging dangerously low on his hips. Being as comfortable as they were with each other at that point, he didn't really notice how exposed his lower abs were, showing off his defined v shaped muscles.

She kept her face in the mountain of pillows and grunted in frustration at Bucky's question.

"What's wrong?" He took the toothbrush out of his mouth and cleaned the corners of his lips with one side of the towel.

She sighed heavily and lifted her head up, sitting back up on the bed, looking up to his face with the most adorable stressed pout. A second later his nakedness suddenly hit her. Her eyes instinctively wandered down to his nude chest, all the way to his hips and his crotch, before realising where her eyes had fallen to and quickly dragging her lustful gaze back up to his eye-line. She blushed slightly when she realised Bucky was smirking down at her, thoroughly enjoying how she drooled over him. She cleared her throat and shifted her now embarrassed gaze to her hands resting on her lap.

"I can't pick what I'm gonna wear tonight."

Making a fuss of such a small thing seemed very childish but actually, it takes a lot of confidence and courage to insert yourself in a completely different and estranged situation, while presenting yourself in "the right way", trying your best to give the impression you can fit in.

It can be a lot of pressure.

He chuckled and sat down next to her, giving her a nudge with his shoulder.

"Don't worry, doll. I can help if you want." He gave her a warm half smile and she immediately felt better. She loved how he didn't comment on how silly she was being or how easy it was to pick a dress. He probably understood the pressure that comes with wanting to fit in with strangers, or people in general. Encouraged by his adoring eyes and caring words, she leaned into him, throwing her arms around his neck and crossing them behind his back, pulling him in a quick embrace. Before he could even reciprocate, she unhooked her arms and rolled over to the other edge of the bed. She reached over her wardrobe and grabbed both dresses, making him laugh. It was amazing how she could switch back and forth between being a child and a very responsible adult. Turning around with a grin, she dangled them in front of him, now waiting for him to make the decision.