Not Another Teen Fic...

Chapter Eight

Steve

Natasha is onto her third drink and Steve is bored out of his mind. The stench of cheap alcohol, cigarettes and sweat is giving him a headache and the constant din of pulsating music and rowdy voices is adding the effect.

After an hour or two, Steve asks Natasha when she's leaving the bar.
"Probably whenever they kick me out." She says.
"Oh..."
"What, are you leaving early?" She asks disappointedly.
"My mom gets home from work at midnight, I don't want her to worry." Steve tells her.
"Text her." Natasha replies. "It's Friday, enjoy yourself!"
"Nat, I really should be going..."

Without a word, Natasha takes Steve's phone. He reaches for it but she stands on the bar stool and holds it in the air. Steve would only be able to reach it if he too stood on a bar stool, which he isn't going to do. Natasha does something on his phone as Steve protests weakly.
"Natalia, get down!" Bucky snaps angrily from across the bar. He and Wade glare at her as she gets down and hands Steve his phone back. She's texted his mom telling her that he's staying out.
"Nat, I can't just-"
"Yes, you can." She replies, then waves her arm in the air to get somebody's attention.

Bucky wanders over, looking pissed off.
"Yes, Natalia?"
"Will you quit calling me that?" She snarls.
"Why should I?" He replies. "It is your name."
"I go by Natasha now." She retorts. Bucky rolls his eyes.
"Whatever you say, Natalia."
"Watch it, or I'll-"
"Do you actually want anything?" Bucky drawls.
"Yes." Natasha says. "Get Steve something to drink."

Bucky looks at Steve's half-drank glass of coke dubiously, then shrugs.
"What do you want?"
"Vodka." Natasha answers for him.
"No!" Steve interjects.
"He'll have vodka." Natasha insists firmly. Steve looks like he's going to protest some more, then he gives in. Bucky frowns, then walks away.

Natasha smiles at Steve endearingly.
"You need to loosen up, Rogers." She tells him. He mumbles something incoherent. Bucky returns quickly, placing a class of clear liquid in front of Steve with a small flash of a smile.

Natasha picks the glass up and gives it into Steve's hand.
"Drink up." Her voice is friendly sounding, but firm. Steve takes a hesitant sip, then frowns. It just tastes like water.
"What's wrong?" Natasha asks.
"N-nothing, its-"
"Barnes!" Natasha shouts. Bucky ignores her, so she shouts it again. He walks over slowly, deliberately taking his time.
"Yes, Natalia?"
"Natasha, its fine! Leave him alone, he's trying to do his job." Steve tells her. She shoots Bucky a dirty look, but then gets distracted by something across the room. Steve leans forward and whispers
"Are you sure this is vodka?"
"Hmm... maybe not." Bucky smirks. "But you didn't want vodka, did you?" He adds with a wink. He walks off quickly, and Steve feels a small smile creep onto his face.

~~~

Steve has had enough. The place has gotten darker and louder as it's gotten later, he has no money left (he didn't have much to start with) and Natasha met somebody and disappeared onto the crowded dance floor with them half an hour ago. While Natasha is gone, he decides that now is a good time to leave.

He's just gotten to his feet when a man slips into the seat beside him, then turns to the girl who has been sat at the bar, alone, for only a few minutes. He hears snatches of their conversation: the guy complimenting her in a way that clearly makes her uncomfortable while she politely tries to tell him to leave her alone.
"Hey." Steve says, before he even thinks about what he's doing. "Leave her alone."

The guy turns to him slowly, scowling.
"Excuse me?"
"Leave her alone." Steve replies, trying to stop himself from shaking. Steve decides that this is now a matter of honour, so instead of doing the smart thing- aka apologising and leaving straight away- he continues. "She isn't interested."
"What would you know?" The man replies. Steve notices the girl getting to her feet, mouthing "thank you" to him before she leaves. This should be Steve's cue to also leave, as quickly as possible, but Steve is known for making stupid decisions when it comes to fights, so he stands his ground.
"Can you not see that she's not interested?"
"What're you trying to say?"
"That she doesn't want to talk to you."

"Are you calling me ugly?" He growls. Steve knows he should just say no, apologise and leave. A past conversation with Natasha suddenly rings in his ears.
"You just look for trouble, don't you?" Natasha had raved, leading him away from yet another fight he had inevitably lost.
"No!" Steve had protested. "People just see me as trouble, and obviously I'm not going to back down, since it's their fault!"
"Don't give me that shit. You deliberately get into fights. You're a fucking masochist!"
Steve suddenly found himself thinking that maybe Natasha hadn't been completely wrong...

"Maybe."

With an angry yell, the man swings his fist at Steve. He ducks and hears somebody shout encouragement to him. He glances over and sees Wade and Bucky watching them with interest, but not worry. Wade shouts encouragement again, but while Steve is distractedly looking at them both, the man aims his fist at Steve again, and this time it actually hits him. Steve goes out like a light, the image of Bucky smiling in satisfaction ingrained onto his eyelids as he falls towards the floor.