The Grumpy Sunshine Series

Drinking Buddies

Originally Posted: 01/02/2022

"I'm going out. Anyone coming with me?" Bucky offers, already pulling on his jacket and ready to leave after the crappy day he's just had.

"Nah, I'm good," Sam declines.

"I'll go!" you chirp, already standing up out of your seat.

"You're going to go out drinking- with Bucky?" Sam asks with an eyebrow raised in complete disbelief.

You shrug. "Why not? I've never gone out drinking before."

"Well that would be the first reason," Sam laughs.

"Would it be better if I went drinking alone?" you ask.

"Definitely not!" Bucky vehemently objects. "Just get dressed and we'll go."

You glance down at what you're wearing. It's the same clothes that you usually wear. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"Nothing," Bucky assures you. "But you were wearing that on the mission. And I'm pretty sure that hoodie's mine, by the way. Just put on something nice- nicer than normal."

"Okay," you nod excitedly, then bolt up the stairs to go find something to wear.

"Alright, well now I'm definitely going."

"You just said that you didn't want to go out," Bucky huffs.

"I know, but this I have to see," Sam teases him.

"There's nothing to see. Just some co-workers going out to a bar."

"Sure it is. Just surprising considering you usually do all your drinking alone."

"Maybe I'm feeling social."

"Or maybe you're getting a little friendly with-"

"Stop that," Bucky cuts him off. "Don't even finish that thought, Sam. There's nothing there. I don't even see her like-" And that's when you make your well timed reappearance. And no matter how hard Bucky tries to hide it, you make his heart beat just a little faster. He's not even sure what it is. He's seen you in that yellow sundress before. You've looked at him like that before, it's no different, he tries to convince himself.

"Dude, put your tongue back in your mouth," Sam interrupts, just as you're walking up to the two of them.

He clears his throat. "Shut up, Sam."

You look at Bucky and see his fully flushed face and the was he's all flustered. You reach out and touch Bucky's arm, slightly concerned. "Bucky, are you okay?"

"Yeah," he rasps, his voice gravelly. "I'm great."

You nod and turn back to the two men. "Do you guys think I'll need a jacket?"

"What do you think, Bucky? Does she need a jacket?" Sam asks with a mischievous grin.

"I think you're fine."

"Fine. Interesting choice of words," Sam continues.

"Leave Bucky alone. You've got him all flushed and flustered," you say, fanning Bucky with a slight breeze.

"Sure, I was the one that did that," Sam wryly remarks, standing up and walking out the door.

The walk to the bar is short and soon you're all three seated at some dive bar that only Bucky's familiar with. You excitedly drum on the countertop, "Alright, what do I try first?"

"You've really never had a drink before?" Sam asks.

"Nope."

"Okay, why don't we go with something simple? How about a beer?" Bucky suggests.