Connections

36: Celebration

Steve and Sam stood by the pool table. Celebrating the Avengers recent win against the last Hydra cell they could find. It was a weird battle, on that slightly affected everyone mentally. However, Steve was glad to wind down with his friends.

Sam hit his shot. Letting out an excited noise, as the others moved around the room behind him. It was a slightly crowded scene. One that Steve wasn't used to. However, he was glad to have one of his close friends with him. His was missing the other one though.

It had been a year since Shield fell, and the three of them ran off to find his best friend, Bucky. A year that they traveled from state to state, country to country, hoping to follow any little lead they had found on him. Layla was the most determined out of the three of them. Always taking it a little hard whenever a lead came to a dead end.

Steve hadn't seen her since he left Sam and Layla in the middle of their most recent search. They had managed to track down some intel on Bucky in Mexico. When they got there he was no where to be found.  What was left for them was a drug cartel they had to deal with instead.

"Sounds like a hell of a fight. Sorry we missed it." Sam said as he walked with Steve to go refresh his drink.

"Had I known it was going to be a firefight, I absolutely would have called you both." Steve answered.

"No, no. I'm not actually sorry." Sam joked, "I'm just trying to sound tough. I'm very happy chasing cold leads on our missing persons case. Lets me get to comfort Layla when she gets down after each one." Sam raised his eyebrows to Steve who shook his head.

"You're barking up the wrong tree. Trying to chase a women while she's chasing her missing, once dead, but now actually alive, ex." Steve and Sam stopped at the bar. Sam handed his drink to the bartender as Steve ordered a soda. "That sounds like a lot of baggage."

Sam turned to him with a confused look on his face, "You know I'm kidding right?" Steve chuckled to him and nodded his head as he patted Sam on the back, "I'm just glad to be there for her, as a friend, while you chase after Hydra."

"Where is Layla anyways? Isn't she supposed to be here?" Steve asked, looking around the room.

"She'll be here eventually. Said she found something on Bucky and didn't want to lose it."

The bartender handed Sam his drink. Sam turned around as Steve flipped back. Looking at his boring soda. He would order a beer. However, what was the point. He wouldn't be able to get drunk anyways. Sam looked around the room. Moving his eyes up to the balcony of room. Sam took a deep breath when he spotted the girl in the short red dress. A dress like that made Layla stand out from everyone in the room.

Sam hit Steve on the shoulder quickly. Steve turned to him, noticing Sam hadn't looked away. Steve furrowed his brows before following Sam's eyesight. Steve's eyes widened as he stared up at Layla. She looked absolutely gorgeous. Whenever they do find Bucky, he was going to be one lucky man.

✪✪✪

I stood at the balcony staring down at the crowd of people below me. A lot of faces I didn't recognize. Didn't surprise me with it being one of Tony's parties. He really knew how to throw one,  and anyone and everyone would want to be here. Just to spend a moment with one of the Avengers. I scanned the room, noticing a pair of familiar faces staring up at me. I smiled brightly before moving down.

I made my way down the stairs. The second I stepped off the last step a familiar pair of brown eyes, and a fancy suit stood in front of me.

"Nope, don't like it. Go change." Tony said to me.