GIF Imagines [s.h]

05

Whilst Robin and Steve were on a break at Scoops, you were playing a game of pick up sticks with Robin as Steve watched. You'd already played a couple of games, both you and Robin had won one each. This was the tiebreaker.

The game started by Steve holding all the sticks vertically against the table and dropping them quickly. The sticks scattered across the table, stacking on top of each other in complex ways. The aim of the game was to collect as many sticks as you could. You could only claim a stick if you picked it up without moving any of the others. To do this, you could use your hands or, your personal favourite way, use another stick that you previously got to flick another off the stacked pile.

Robin was very competitive. But, so were you. You started off by picking up a stick that had rolled off to the side when dropped, secluded from the others - an easy turn. Robin went the slightly trickier route by trying to pick up one from atop a small pile. Unfortunately for her, her thumb knocked another stick, causing it to wobble, resulting in the end of her turn.

You played back and forth for a while, both of you collecting multiple sticks. Eventually, the only sticks left were in a pile that was particularly difficult to separate.
It was Robin's turn. She pointed at a stick. "That's the one I'm going for."
"Isn't that one resting on it though?" You pointed out a different stick.
"Nope!"

You squint, bending closer to watch as she attempts to slide out the stick. She manages to bring the stick out so far before the one you pointed out wobbled ever so slightly. "HA!" you exclaim. "It wobbled! I told you it was resting on it!"
Robin looks at you, furrowing her eyebrows. "No it didn't. It didn't wobble at all?"
"Yeah it did!"
"No it didn't!"
"Yeah it did!"
You argue back and forth until...
"Steve!" You both call simultaneously.

His eyes widen in fear. He knows it's serious when you have to ask him for his opinion. "Did it or did it not move?" you ask, folding your arms, moving away from the table. Robin follows to where Steve is standing, a bit away from the table. He figured it was safer there, he could still watch whilst keeping a reasonable distance.
Steve looks at both of you before looking back at the pile of sticks. "I don't know!" he protests, his mouth full of banana.
"How do you not know?" Robin asks.
"Yeah! Were you not watching?" you accuse.
He swallows his mouthful before replying. "I was watching. I promise!" he insists.
"Then why can't you say if it wobbled or not?" Robin glares at him.

Hesitating, he averts his eyes. "Okay. Maybe I was slightly distracted."
"By what?" you demand.
He clears his throat. "Um... you."
All your annoyance instantly washes away as you look at Steve's soft smile. "Oh." You smile.

However, the same can't be said for Robin.
"Oh my god, Steve! Are you serious? This game is very important and you're staring at Y/N instead of the sticks? You haven't even asked her out because you're such a coward. Grow a pair and ask her out like you want to and then you can stare at her all you like."
"Hey!" He points at her accusingly, his cheeks now tinted red. "That is completely unnecessary."
They glower at each other, both refusing to break the stare.

After a while, you clear your throat. "Well. Robin, I'm willing to give you the rest of your turn. You can keep trying with that stick."
She smiles triumphantly. "Yes!"
Going back to the table, she crouches down to continue.
But, you're not overly interested in the game anymore.

Your attention is on Steve, whose eyes are searching your face, perhaps trying to gauge your reaction to what Robin revealed. He offers you a tentative smile, which you take as your signal to speak.
"Was Robin right?" you whisper.
He rubs his neck, looking at the floor. "Yeah. She was."
"Well, in that case..." you tail off, closing the small distance between you and Steve, placing a quick peck on his cheek. As you take a step back again, you continue. "You should know that if you were to ask me out I would say yes."
He opens his mouth to respond but a yell interrupts him.

"YES!" Robin's shout breaks the moment as you and Steve begin to laugh. "I got it Y/N! Your go!"
"I should probably, y'know," you gesture to the sticks.
"Probably." He chuckles. "But Y/N?"
"Yeah?"
"Movie Saturday?" He gives you a hopeful smile.
"Sounds great." You return his smile before walking back to take your go. Even if you don't win pick up sticks, at least you have a date with Steve to look forward to.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
idk if any of you would've ever played
pick up sticks but it's SO FUN
especially for something so simple lmao

also... thank you for over 200 reads!
i really appreciate it <333

hope you enjoyed!
and
thank you for reading <3
- mia 💌