Even If You Can't Hear My Voice, I'll Be Right Beside You

Bucky had taken up reading the newspaper in the evening, so he was currently sitting on the couch with his newspaper in hand. Hopefully his eyes would glance over to the game of checkers that Steve and Ari were playing, just to see who was winning at the time. Steve had been leading the game the entire time before Ari made her big move and wiped out Steve’s three pawns, a grin settled on his lips at the expression on Steve’s face. He hadn’t seen that coming, but he should know now that Ari always had a backup plan stored inside her mind. “Well done, love.” He praised her like he always did, he had also taken a liking to calling her love as it felt right coming off his tongue. Ari hadn’t mentioned anything about it, or told him to stop so he assumed that she must be alright with the nick name.

Everything had calmed down and he had settled into this way of life, although he agreed with the new security system, there hadn’t actually been any threats for them while having been there. This however still hadn’t made Bucky truly relax, his guard was still up as he knew if he did begin to relax and enjoy himself completely then they would be attacked. And Ari could be taken from him or hurt or even killed, which he wouldn’t allow to happen. Not even if he died protecting her, because he would give up his life for the beautiful raven haired woman. Steve had mentioned the other day that he saw a change in Bucky, that he apparently looked at Ari in a certain way. The way that Steve looked at Grace, but Bucky ignored that comment. Yes, he could feel himself growing more attached to Ari. But that would only cause her more pain and stop her from getting everything she wanted in life.

---

Grace had taken her time getting herself ready, she didn’t know who would be at this party and she wanted to make a good impression on them. But she also wanted Steve to be proud to have her be there with him, proud to show her off to people as she hoped they were heading in the same direction. He hadn’t asked her to be his girlfriend yet and although she could easily ask him, she was a bit old fashioned herself. So she had applied her makeup lightly and curled her hair, she slipped on a dark charcoal dress that hit just above her knees and had capped sleeves. The dress she had brought a few days prior when she had gone out to collect more groceries, the dress showed off her figure but wasn’t too tight for her liking. She pulled out a pair of nude heels, before putting on a set of pearl studs and a simple silver bracelet.

She was excited to attend Tony’s party and get out of the house for the night, but she also wanted to spend some time alone with Steve. Grace grabbed her clutch bag before heading out into the living room, a smile brightened her face when she noticed Steve was concentrating on checkers while Ari waited for his next move. She cleared her throat softly, “Ready to go?” She asked once Steve had stood up, the checkers game forgotten about which Ari quietly celebrated as it meant she had won that round.

@ sugarplum.
How did it happen? He didn't know. But he had to give her some credit, and couldn't brush his loss off as a loss of concentration or anything. Because he was Steve, and he was Captain America - concentration was the different between life and death.

Hearing Grace's voice, Steve looked up and all of his concerns faded away again - just like that. The checker game was forgotten (it was a lost cause anyway). Steve stood up and, out of habit from his old self, he reached up to fix his tie - unaware of him even doing so. How did she manage to take his breath away, to make him feel foolish and young again? He didn't know - nor care to know - it was nice.

"You look beautiful," he said softly once he came closer and took her hand with a soft smile, "Of course. Let's go." The car keys were taken, the remaining two were farewelled and Steve stepped outside, heading to the car and opening the door for Grace. To say he was excited was an understatement. He could barely conceal it. Despite his inital nervousness, there was a little bounce in his step and a grin on his lips. "Are you ready to have the best night of your life?" He asked with a chuckle as he got into the car, "Apparently that's what it will be - Tony's words." He started to drive.

---

Bucky's praise was like gold rain, and she glowed a little sending him a proud grin. One glance at Steve and she knew that this round was hers. He simply wouldn't be able to come back from that. Somehow, that was satisfying.

Raising her eyes to see Grace, she let out a small gasp of joy and mouthed, You're stunning to Grace, least she break the trance that the poor Captain America was in. Adorable. She waved them off and bid them a good time, and once the door was shut, Ari fiddled a little with the sleeve of her hoodie and hesitated at the door. Alone. With him. This was a rare chance nowadays, she had taken those in her apartment a little for granted. Ari turned around and gave Bucky a rather smug grin, as if she had something up her sleeve.

And maybe she did. Ari waltzed to the kitchen and pulled out some alcohol she had spotted a while ago. She grabbed a glass and glanced over at Bucky. "Want a drink?" She then looked thoughtful and as she poured herself a glass, smiled over the rim at him, "You can't get drunk, can you?"

Bucky had glanced over the newspaper when the happy couple left, his eyes moved back to the article he had been reading until he heard movement coming from Ari. His brow lifted slightly when he caught sight of what she was holding, “No. I can’t get drunk, which I’m sure you already know.” He spoke as he watched Ari pour herself a drink, of course there had been many times over the years that Bucky had tried to get himself drunk and it never worked as his body burnt off the alcohol too fast for it to even slightly affect him.

“But you are able to get drunk, and I’d rather not deal with you if you do get drunk.” He told her as he reached for the bottle and moved it further away from Ari, although he wouldn’t actually stop her from having a drink. She deserved to have a drink and to relax after what she has been through, from working for HYDRA to being on the run from HYDRA soldiers and then being attacked and stabbed. “Besides if you do get drunk, I’m not going to take any responsibly nor will I take the blame for what you do.” A soft grin threatened to touch his lips, he wouldn’t mind seeing a drunk Ari as he would be interested in what she had to say.

He did remember somewhat of his younger years, when he was a young man and when he had gone to a bar after a long day. He had gotten himself drunk a few times, although those parts of his life were still blurry. He still knew that the truth tended to come out when a person had some alcohol in their system, he did wonder if Ari would share any secrets with him or tell him what was on her mind that she otherwise wouldn’t want to share with him.

---

Grace had already told Ari that she was just a call away if she or Steve was needed, however deep down she knew Bucky wouldn’t hurt Ari. She had seen the way they looked at each other, it was a special look that Grace hadn’t seen many times before but it was the spark that her grandparents had in their eyes when the other was around. She hadn’t said anything as both were blind and wouldn’t listen to her anyway, so Grace sent a smile to Ari before she walked out of the house with Steve. Climbing into the car once he held the door open for her, she laughed softly at his comment but she was ready. She hadn’t been to a party for a long time, not since before Ari was hurt and she first met Bucky. “I’m sure it will be and yes, I’m ready. This will be good for us, we hadn’t really had time to relax or spend together.” Her smile brightened her eyes as she looked at him, how could one person be so attractive?

“And it’ll be nice to see you around your friends,” She was curious, she wanted to see how he acted with his close friends. She hadn’t seen it between him and Bucky, mainly because Bucky couldn’t remember as much as Steve could. And she also was dying to meet his friends and the people he worked with, as a doctor in Shield, she mostly dealt with the agents and not the superheroes. Apart from Steve who would just show up at her office whenever he had the time, soft music flowed from the radio as Steve drove towards the city and towards the Stark tower. She wondered if Ari would have been interested in the suits that Tony has designed and made for himself.

The journey was a quiet one and it wasn’t long before they had parked the car and were standing in an elevator, Grace’s hand found Steve’s just as the elevator doors opened and revealed the party that Tony was holding. Stepping forward a waiter offered them both a drink, although Grace refused as she wanted to meet people first and she also didn’t want to get tipsy. “This place is amazing,” Grace spoke to Steve as she looked around the large room, “Thank you. And might I say that you put this room to shame,” Tony grinned as he moved closer to the couple, “I’m glad you two could make it.” Tony looked at them both before encouraging them to get a drink and to enjoy themselves.

@ sugarplum.
Ari raised a brow as the bottle was pushed away. Oh? She reached out and brought it back to finish pouring herself a glass before quickly raising it to her lips and taking the first sip. The glass was then set down as if to make a point and she grinned. "After all these years of taking responsibility for your arm, I think,

@ sugarplum.
Ari raised a brow as the bottle was pushed away. Oh? She reached out and brought it back to finish pouring herself a glass before quickly raising it to her lips and taking the first sip. The glass was then set down as if to make a point and she grinned. "After all these years of taking responsibility for your arm, I think, for one night you can take care of me." She leaned forward a little locking eyes with him. The way they made or avoided contact was so cute and adorable to her. For a while she wanted that gaze to be focused solely on her. For a while - and that's all, she told herself.

"What would you like to do? We could play a game, winner choose what the loser should do. Or if you're not feeling brave," she teased, "We can sleep - like old people do. But Grace and Steve are at a party, and I wouldn't mind having a fun time myself. So, what will it be?" She lightly patted his cheek with a cheeky smile and drew back to drink some more.

---

It wasn't hi first time here at the tower but it certainly didn't stop him from falling into awe again at the sheer size and to marvel at all the things that caught his eye. So many things to be fascinated over! He refused the first drink offered but when Tony glided up and offered another, Steve dektnobliged to the it. It wasn't as if he was going to get drunk anyway, he could do a drink for company and impression.

"It's nice to see you again, Tony," Steve greeted and they shook hands, though he didn't let go off escorting Grace - the hand holding had been replaced with a small arm loop - he liked it more. It wasn't shied away and hidden. Before any of them could say anything else, the other Avengers pulled up. Natasha was the first to show up all good and glittery in her dress (still a surprise for Steve though if he knew her well then he knew she had a few tricks up her skirt too if the situation needed it) followed by Clint. At this point there were too many people and Clint wanted a bro hug and Steve was forced to let go off Graces arm so that she wouldn't be squished between Clint and Thor and others. Once they all hugged it out, Steve stepped back and pulled Grace back into the spotlight, "I'd like for you guys to meet Grace, who graced me with her company today." He smiled down at her. Natasha and Clint knew her but not Thor and others.

//Fixed

Bucky closed and folded the newspaper before placing it on the coffee table, now forgotten about. “Saving your life doesn’t count as taking care of you?” He wasn’t serious at all, however if someone didn’t know him and didn’t catch the lighter tone of his voice then they would have thought he was being serious as his facial expressions never really changed.

“You mustn’t know me well, there hasn’t been a time when I’m not brave. But I will refuse playing truth or dare again,” He told Ari rather bluntly, he’ll never forget last time he played the horrible game because she dared him to do many things that he didn’t enjoy nor like.

“I will take care of you tonight, if you decide to get drunk then I won’t be taking care of you tomorrow.” He bargained with her even though she wouldn’t have a choice, if Ari was hung over in the morning then she would be on her own.

---

Grace held onto Steve’s arm as she was suddenly surrounded by the Avengers, she sent a smile at Clint and Natasha as it was good to see them both again. She would love to catch up with them if she got the time during the night, however her eyes were drawn to Thor and Bruce. Both of which she hadn’t met yet but wanted to, Thor was gorgeous just like she knew he would be and was taller then she imagined him. And Bruce was just as amazing to Grace, he was someone she admired and would love to work with.

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you both.” She introduced herself to Thor and Bruce as she offered them her hand, once she shook their hands she noticed how uncomfortable Bruce looked in the social situation. She also met a SHIELD agent, Maria Hill, who Steve has mentioned before as she helped out a lot on his missions.

“Come, sit with us.” Thor urged as the group moved over to the couches, Grace smiled up at Steve. “I like your friends,” She whispered to him before she moved over to the couches and sat down on one beside Natasha, it wasn’t long before she was pulled into a conversation with the red head and Bruce. Any concern or nerves that Grace had about meeting Steve’s friends, had vanished once they welcomed her warmly.

Ari tilted her head and pretended to think about his words. "No," she grinned, "That's something else."
She watched him and laughed as he refused to play. "Oh? You didnt enjoy that? Was simple Ari too much for the mighty Winter Sol-dier?" She teased out the name, breaking it into a few syllables and moving over to slide on to the armrest of the chair in which he was sitting. Nodding in agreement, Ari ran her fingers over the ridges of his metallic arm. "Well what about a hide and seek? But with a twist?" She picked up a small plush toy from nearby. "Whoever catches the person with this, gets to order the other to do something, cook or push ups, whatever. Then they take the plush and hide." She peered down at him, "So it's not truth or dare exactly, hm? ANd you can sneak around and hide. I can hide. I bet you won't find me." Her eyes sparkled. It was a challenge.

---

Steve felt relaxed more so for Grace once the others greeted and - once they sat down - involved her in the conversation. He had faith in his friends, and they didn't let him down before and clearly not now either. Sure, they would occasionally pull up something he did in one or other mission and tease him a little (he felt it was on purpose so that they made him seem more human in front of Grace? He wasn't sure).

"I know they like you too," He replied to Grace once they got a moment to themselves - the group had gotten involved in some other talk. "You get along well with Bruce. He's a scientist too you know. Something about... nuclear physics was it? You'd have a lot to talk about." He paused to take a snack and giving one small happy nudge to encourage Grace to keep talking to friends, he returned the attention Thor was asking for - who got carried away explaining some grand war of his, waving his hammer around. It didn't take long before suddenly the men all wanted to try lift it.

One by one they tried, and even Steve tested it (and he swore it moved a little but probably he thought he imagined it)- but Steve pulled back with a laugh and gestured to Grace. "Wanna try? Come on. Try!"

So much for Bucky’s quiet night in, which was really all he did now. He only ventured outside during the day, and that was only if he needed to do some housework with Steve or Ari wanted to spend some time in the garden. He liked to watch her when she did just in case someone was watching the house, but as soon as the sun begun to set he was inside the house and he always made sure Ari was too as he wasn’t going to let anything else happen to her. Even if that meant making her bored with how much time she was spending inside, he could tell it was slowly beginning to annoy her but Bucky was doing all of this for her own safety.

“You have never been simple, Ari.” He looked at her before heaving out a heavy sign, “Alright fine.” He grumbled as he gave into the game that she wanted to play so badly, “Go hide then.” He encouraged her just as she would be happy and would stop bothering him so much, the thought did cross his mind about having her hide and then he would go back to reading his newspaper. But he knew that wouldn’t go down well with Ari, so he would go find her once he counted to a certain number.

---

Grace smiled at Steve before she dived into a deep conversation with Bruce, this was a dream come true for her. Bruce was a genius and she had followed his work for many years, she never once thought she’d have the chance to actually talk to him and talk about topics that they were both interested in. He didn’t treat her differently because she was only a doctor either, not that she expected him too. Their conversation however seemed to be one that no one else was interested in, as no one joined them but Grace didn’t mind. It gave her more time to pick Bruce’s brain about anything she wanted.

That was until Thor invited all the guys to try and lift his hammer off the table, Grace watched the men try and fail until Steve was inviting her to try. “I highly doubt it’ll move,” She stood up from the couch and walked over to where the hammer was, she wrapped her hand around the handle and gave the cool metal a tug and just like she thought the hammer stayed where it was. She smiled as she walked over to the bar and poured herself a small glass of wine, she couldn’t help but admire the room she was standing in. And that was when Tony moved up beside her, joining her and starting a conversation with her.

---

Natasha was sipping her beer as her eyes found Tony and Grace standing at the bar, “Have you told Tony yet?” She asked Steve when she noticed how close Tony was standing to Grace, hadn’t Steve made it official with her yet? “You might want to soon, before he makes a move on your girl.” She looked at her friend, she found it cute how old-fashioned Steve still was to this day. But he couldn’t always be like that, certainly not when Tony was around the brunette doctor that Steve liked so much.