Ms. Stark [Peter Parker]

Chapter 17| Africa

PETER
6:37 pm; Tuesday- Avengers facility

The music started, as the foreign instruments glistened in. It reminded me of actually being in Africa, as it sent goosebumps down my spine.

The chimes rang as I followed along to the dancer, not paying any sorts of attention to Maria. Small whispers were heard surrounding me, but I just focused on how my body flows with the music. The drumming gave the steady beat of the harmony.

"It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you..."

I bumped into Maria on accident, as we both slid into each other.

"There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do..."

I looked at the score to see we were tied at the moment, but we quickly went back and forth with who was winning.

"I bless the rains down in Africa..."

I fell in almost a trance with the music, as I moved my body along with Maria at my side. She almost had every dance move the exact same as mine, but the two characters we danced as were slightly different.

"Gonna take some time to do the things we never had..."

The song went on, repeating the chorus. The guitarist and keyboard got more intense, showing the sign it would soon be at its end. Maria and I kept battling over the crown, clearly frustrating her.

All of a sudden, what once was an independent dance, brought two of the characters together. I didn't want to lose, either did Maria. The characters had their arms wrapped around one another, in a slow dance.

I put one of my hands on Maria's small waist, as she swung one of her arms on my shoulder. Our other hands collided together.

"I bless the rains down in Africa..." kept repeating, as I blushed fiercely.

I swung her around, following the movements on screen. I caught her smiling up at me, and for a second, I smile back.

Everything seemed to stop around us as if only our pounding hearts were heard. Confidence boiled up inside me but slowly went down as the song fainted away. The characters went into the final dip, as I repeated dipping Maria back.

But as she got lower, my face got closer. Heat rushed all over me not knowing what to do, as our faces were only inches apart. I could feel her hot breath on my skin.

DO SOMETHING, PETER!

I let go.

I dropped her.

Everything and everybody came back to reality as she hit the floor.

I stood there in shock, not knowing what to do as Maria lied down on the ground. She winced in pain as I stared at her in shock.

"Oh my god, Maria I-"

"PETER PARKER, WHY I OUTTA-"

She came to life, as she jumped up and grabbed a pillow. We both laughed as she threw the nearby pillow at my face, as all the Avengers joined in with laughter.

"Okay, okay. I deserved that," I state, holding my arms up in surrender.

"Look who beat you, Underdoos," Mr. Stark interrupts, with a smirk held at his face. I turn to the screen to see Maria beat me by two points. I groaned at her as she smiled smugly back.

"That's what you get Peter for asking for pizza," Natasha adds on, acting like a total mom.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

·····

I hummed in pleasure as I chewed on the oily pizza. Pepperoni grease drizzled down the slice, as I took another bite.

As Natasha promised, the pizza arrived shortly after the last dance between Maria and I. But now, everybody was eating the pizza and talking to one another yet again. I could tell the party would be closing up soon since the sun started going down.

I was leaning on the kitchen countertop as I watched Maria and Steve talk over something in the living room. They both were just a few minutes ago over here, but Tony called them over so it just left Bucky and I eating in silence. Steve was smiling unsurely about something down at Maria, while she flung her arms everywhere as she talked. Mr. Stark laughed at her, while she stuck out her tongue.

"So, you and Maria a thing?"

I coughed on my piece of pizza, now stuck in my throat because of the shock. I looked back to Bucky who was watching me, and most likely watching me also before when I was still facing Maria.

"Wait, what? No, of course not! We are just work partners, that's all!" I rambled out, way to fast to be normal. I saw a smirk grow on Bucky's face, making me more embarrassed.

"Its okay, you don't have to freak out. I was just wondering," he said back, trying to calm me. I nodded, even though my face still burned the color of red.

"I bet she has a crush on you though," he teased. I was glad it was just us over at the kitchen counter, otherwise, I wouldn't be sure if I would still be alive.

Bucky must have found it amusing how embarrassed I was on the topic because he kept a coy smile.

"I don't like her anymore as a friend and neither does she. It's not going to change," I declare, quietly though.

"Okay, I get it. Steve probably wouldn't like the idea of that anyway."

The shaggy-haired man watched me with a smile as I continued to observe Maria. I didn't say anything back.

"Speaking of Steve, I probably should go tell him I am heading off. I'll see you later," he adds on while getting up and making his way back over to Steve.

I found it odd how open Bucky was with talking to me, he seemed less shy and timid than I thought.

But as he continued to walk over, I think the smirk he held was still on view on his face.

Why is my embarrassment so amusing?

(A/N- I love Bucky. That's all.)