Steve meets Clint (and Bucky's in there somewhere too)

[assembles]

Living in Bucky's apartment was strange for a number of reasons. For one thing, Steve's life period was strange these days, and he didn't know if that would ever wear off. He was getting used to some parts of the future, but not to the fact that he and Bucky existed in it. He would say it was like someone had frozen them and then thawed them out seventy years later, except that was exactly what had happened.

Still, even if he knew how it had all worked (more or less), that didn't mean that he could shake the feeling that the two of them just didn't fit. They were relics, walking photographs, and--

Well, Bucky had told him a little about how Captain America had become a symbol more than a person. There was all this merchandise they'd made after his supposed death. Somehow they'd managed to use his sacrifice as a morale booster rather than letting it lower people's spirits, which was both impressive and... well, it made the guilt a little easier to bear.

But he'd seen Peggy, and he still couldn't quite get the image of her teary-eyed face out of his head. She'd been beautiful, but he could swear he still felt the feeling of her wrinkled hands on his face.

Suffice to say, he hadn't been sleeping that well since he moved in. Bucky didn't say much about it, which was fine by Steve. His friend was giving him space in a way that S.H.I.E.L.D hadn't, which he appreciated.

Either way, he'd gone to bed at midnight and startled awake out of a nightmare at about 4AM. He'd passed some time reading -- he had a lot to catch up on, after all -- but once the sun was officially up he wandered into the kitchen to make some waffles. Bucky's favorite.

The only apron he could find was a bright yellow one with lace on it, which was... odd, to say the least. Who did this even belong to? Either way, he was pretty sure he had an idea of what he could get Bucky for his birthday. Steve sinched it around his waist and then started digging through the cabinets for all the ingredients he needed. The pantries were in a much better state now that he'd made a trip to the grocery store, that was for sure.

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[assembles]

While the comment Bucky made about being the popular one was clearly in good fun, Steve never knew how to react to things like that. It was true that he had gone from being a loser to a hero overnight, and he had never known what to make of it. He knew it must have been weird for Bucky, too, since their friendship had always worked a certain way -- and now the tables had been turned. Bucky had never seemed bitter about it, but that didn't stop Steve from worrying. It probably showed on his face, but he didn't say anything at the moment. He wasn't sure he had the right words yet.

Either way, the two moved on to explaining more about Natasha -- or Black Widow -- pretty soon after, which gave him something to focus on as he prepared his waffles. Steve put on some jam and powdered sugar and then went to sit at the table, not very interested in standing and eating if he didn't have to. Honestly, one of the oddest things about the change after the serum that he hadn't expected was his appetite. It was like he was always hungry these days. For that reason, it wasn't long before he was digging into his breakfast.

It sounded like Natasha had an extensive history and an impressive set of skills, and the way Clint spoke about her made it clear that he had nothing but admiration for her. Steve could never imagine being a spy or fishing for information. He'd be terrible at it, so he found it impressive when someone else could pull that off.

It was Clint's last comment that stood out most, though. "She won't? Why's that? And uhh, what's this nest you're talking about?" There was clearly something going on here that he wasn't in on, but hopefully Bucky and Clint wouldn't mind having to answer all of his questions. He had to imagine it got annoying after a while, but he was doing his best to catch up.

[soldier_on]

He regretted the words not five seconds after he said them, because instead of giving him shit right back, Steve had that guilty look on his face again. He wasn't really sure how to explain that yeah, he was a jealous, and it was petty, but not really in the way Steve seemed to think. Things had changed again between them again since he got back, as much as Bucky didn't really want to admit it, and sooner or later they'd have to hash it out, but not right now. He shot Steve his best stop feeling guilty for stuff that's not your fault look. He used that look a lot.

Waffles were a much easier topic. He lifted his fork long enough to point it at Clint. "Watch it, Barton. I get best friend privileges so I can cut off your supply. And if your ego still fits in your nest, I think I can squeeze in."

It wasn't really ego, but Bucky wasn't really that big, so fair was fair.

He heard more stories about Natasha than he actually saw of her. He could guess at what was classified, but he didn't really care too much, considering the only people he'd mention it to were sitting in this room, and one of them had been working with her for ages. There was something familiar about her that he could never quite place, but Clint had laughed and said that was just 'Tasha.

He pushed a bite of waffle across his plate while Clint explained, not really inclined to sit down.

"It's a vantage point. Sniper's nest," Bucky supplied, in response to the last bit. "Clint's a... he's the World's Greatest Marksman. I lost the bet, so I have to say that, but it's actually true."