"Okay," Loki announced, carrying the Yule log into the room. He took a look around at the group on his way around the simply decorated Yule tree to the fireplace, and casually asked Bruce, "Do you mind grabbing the matches?"
"Oh, sure," Bruce easily agreed. Standing from his seat from the loveseat beside Thor, he unwittingly left the room for the matches that were purposely forgotten in the kitchen.
Not that they needed them. As nonchalantly as possible, Thor stood from his seat and quickly closed the partition doors while everyone else crowded around the fireplace. Ceremoniously, they took each other's hands and bowed their heads while they silently prayed to Alveus. Although Steve wasn't too fond of their God, he still found himself praying to him. After all, he didn't want to ruin things any more than he already had.
"May Hive bless us enough to prosper," Thor softly stated, ending their prayers.
Moving from beneath Thor's hand on his right shoulder and Hildy's hand on his left, Loki bent at the knees to place the log in their fireplace. Once it was placed just right, he conjured a flame on the tip of his index finger and touched it to the log. Sure, Loki didn't necessarily need to be so dramatic as use his finger as a lighter, and could've just set the log ablaze from simply looking at it. But Loki was always the more dramatic guardian and exactly where Steve learned it from.
With furrowed brows, Loki stood and directed his attention to Steve as he asked, "Aren't you wanting anything for the new year?"
Steve swallowed thickly, unsure of what to say. What could he say? His one desire was to live a mortal life with Bucky, and all of that had been burned to the ground. Loki knew that. Yes, Steve had forgiven him for his part in all of it, but that didn't mean that Steve was happy with how things ended.
Thankfully, before Steve had to think of a possible answer that wasn't too bitter, Bruce returned. Looking confused as he carefully pushed open the wooden doors and joined them in the family room with a box of matches. When Bruce noticed that the fire was already going, an obvious wave of awkwardness pushed out from his meek frame.
"I forgot that I had a match in my pocket," Thor quickly explained as he held out his hand for the box in his date's grasped, "Thank you, though."
"Of course," Bruce shyly smiled up at the gentle giant. As he handed the box to Thor, their skin brushed along one another's. And while a small smile tugged at Thor's lips, Bruce yanked his hand away as quickly as possible.
Steve was glad to find that he wasn't the only one awkwardly looking away at the exchange. This was a date, wasn't it? Glancing up at his uncle, Steve was sad to realize that he wasn't the only one mutely questioning that.
Sensing the suddenly tense air, Carol asked, "Movies? Aren't we watching movies?"
"Yes!" Hildy exclaimed, thankful for the change of subject. Standing from her spot on the sofa once more, she gave Carol a kiss before crossing over to the TV as she teased, "I knew there was a reason I kept you around."
"Oh, that's the reason," Carol knowingly, flirtatiously smirked.
Hildy winked before shuffling through their planned holiday DVDs. It was exactly what the room needed as they soon situated themselves in the surrounding seats. Ready to relax and cozy up to one another. Steve took a seat beside Natasha. Rigidly, Steve attempted to not touch Natasha at all.
"You okay?" Natasha whispered, setting her mug on the side table beside her.
Looking over at exactly the wrong time to find Natasha licking the layer of melted marshmallow from her upper lip, Steve averted his gaze and attempted to make himself as small as possible while he gave a quick nod as his answer. Of course, Natasha knew that he was lying.
Should've asked for less perceptive friends, Steve couldn't help but think.
"When are we going to... talk...?" Natasha quirked a brow.
Glancing over at the adults, Steve wondered if any of them were paying attention to them. Thankfully, they all seemed preoccupied with Thor and Bruce and whatever was going on between them. Even Carol, who was sitting on the sofa on Steve's other side, was watching the pair as they awkwardly sat on the loveseat.
"Witching hour," Steve finally decided, taking a drink of his hot chocolate.
Natasha nodded, picked up her mug, and held it out to Steve. For a moment, he just looked at it before glancing up at her. Briefly, Natasha relaxed her face when she realized that Steve wasn't getting it and rolled her eyes. Quickly regaining her composure, Natasha gave Steve's mug a pointed look, then redirected her gaze to her own mug.
Feeling like an idiot that he didn't get it sooner, Steve blushed and bashfully raised his mug. Holding it out towards Natasha's and clinking the porcelain mugs together. Fighting a cringe at the noise they made, Steve brought his own mug back to his lips. When Natasha did the same, there was a delightful confidence hidden in the way she held herself in her casual posture. Steve's heart clenched, missing Bucky all the more.
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The Chilling Adventures of Steve Rogers: Book 2 (Magical Hydra Horror AU)
Fanfic"Steve turned, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose before he looked up at Bucky. The way that Bucky looked at him sent a chill down his spine. Completely taken every time that Bucky looked at him like that. And the thing that surprise...
