Dresses were never Y/n's thing, and neither were parties. Nat would always tell her that her hatred towards them was mutual, but she hid it well. In fact, watching her toss her head back in laughter, enjoying every second of her birthday party, only convinced Y/n that Nat had grown to love these parties. The Avengers were her family after all. This was her home, and these were her people.

Y/n glanced down at her outfit and half smiled. A navy-blue dress that loosely fell just above her knees, with some heels that only rose an inch and a half or so off the ground, unlike the stilettos Wanda had suggested.

"Why not a tighter dress?" She remembered Maria pester last time Tony threw a party. "You don't have to, but you'd look absolutely gorgeous."

If only it were that simple.

The nasty scars, the insecurities. It was enough to overlap any possibility of feeling comfortable enough.

"Hey Y/n? Are you okay?"

She turned to see Tony beaming with his party hat slightly crooked on his head. Y/n chuckled and pushed it so it was straight. "I'm doing fine... great actually. How's Nat doing?"

"Better than I expected." He smirked. "She was threatening me to take down the decorations, but after a few shots, not a word about them."

He yelped as he felt someone pull him towards the dance floor, giving Y/n a thumbs up before disappearing into the crowd. With that, she stood alone in the corner once again.

She swirled around the glass of tequila in her hand which, as a matter a fact, did nothing to her super soldier body. As much as Thor's offer of Asgardian Mead tempted her, there wasn't a point. Getting drunk wasn't what she needed right now.

Her eyes drifted to the balcony, completely vacant. "Score." She muttered to herself thankfully.

The cool, evening air hit her face as she slid the sleek, glass door open. The music muffled as she slid it closed behind her, becoming white noise.

From living in the low-income suburbs to the Stark tower in New York City. What else was there to ask for? The view never failed to be completely overwhelming.

"Is that tequila doing anything for you?"

Y/n let out a small gasp as Bucky appeared from behind her. She clenched her jaw as her eyes went to his suit, defining his build in all the right places. It wasn't often that she saw him this classy. He usually skipped the parties entirely.

"What are you doing out here?" She mumbled, turning back to the city view.

"The music got even louder. I can't even hear myself talk without yelling." He chuckled lightly, joining her gaze next to her. "I take it parties aren't your thing either."

Y/n shrugged. "Nah. I mean, I went to a few in high school, but they weren't special."

"Well, I'll tell you one thing, the parties I used to go to were pretty fun." Y/n turned her head, shifting her attention to him fully. "Like how?"

"Well, the music was lively and catchy. You'd dance around with your friends or a nice dame and be smiling all night. Then sometimes the music would get a little slower, romantic." He began to trail off. "And the lucky guys would be slow dancin' with the prettiest gals they've ever seen."

Y/n couldn't help but giggle, noticing his forties, Brooklyn accent tainted in his words. "Sounds like fun."

They fell into a silence, the faint sound of rushing cars and pop music sounding around them.

"So you don't like these kinds of parties then?"
Y/n questioned. "With all the smoke and loud music?"

He shook his head, a grin playing on his lips. "I guess it's... not the same." The bass of the music inside boomed around them.

Y/n nodded and laughed dryly. "It's the crowds for me."

Bucky tilted his head in confusion. "But everyone loves you Y/n. You shouldn't be out here alone."

"I'm with you aren't I?" She offered a him smile.

He stopped for a moment and caught her gaze, her expression unreadable. He took his eyes off her's and smirked. "You think that's a good thing?"

Her sight landed on the glass of gin and tonic in his hand that she hadn't noticed until now. She gently took it from his hand and placed it next to hers on the railing. "Follow me."

Bucky crinkled his eyebrows, but didn't protest as Y/n led him back into the crowd, the noise rushing to their ears as soon as the glass doors slid open.

We do whatever we want
Go wherever we want
Love however we want
It don't matter
You'll do whatever I want
Get whatever I want
Get whatever I need
It's about
Love, love, love love

She stopped at the bar, a dangerous smirk on her lips. "If I'm getting drunk, you're getting drunk with me."

"Wha-what do you mean. With Asgardian Mead?" Bucky stammered, surprised at her unusual straightforwardness.

"Exactly." She grinned. "Fun-fact, I've never gotten drunk at a party."

"It's not as fun as you're making it sound." A laugh escaped his perfect lips, making Y/n's heart flutter slightly.

"Well, I mean you don't have to. I was just suggesting it because we both are, by far, the most depressing people here. Look at everyone, having fun and partying. Like normal." She watched as Bucky's expression changed, his mouth curving into a smile.

"Look at it this way." Y/n began. "Right now, we both want nothing more than to leave this place and sit alone in our rooms where it's quiet. That's what we want while we're sober. So..."

"So." Bucky continued. "If we get drunk, which neither of us have done in years, we might get something out of this night?"

"Exactly."

He pondered the idea one last time before eventually nodding. "Alright, let's do it."

Y/n flashed him a smile before taking off towards Thor. He stood with Steve, who was swaying slightly and talking abnormally loud.

"Y/n!" Thor called out. "Look what Natasha got Rogers to do for her birthday.

"This stuff does wonders Y/n!" Steve slurred, raising his voice over the noise. "You should definitely give it a try!"

"Oh God, Nat what did you do to him?" Y/n watched as Steve leaned against the wall to maintain his balance.

She shrugged, sipping her drink casually. "I told him he needed to lighten up on my birthday. I haven't seen him this... well... joyful in a while, if you know what I mean."

Y/n snorted. "Even the patriot needs to let loose." She took a quick glance back to Bucky, who threw her a hesitant smile. "Actually Thor, I'm gonna need a bit of that stuff too."

Nat's eyes instantly widened, giving Y/n a light push on the shoulder. "That's more like it! Glad I get the honor of getting both of you introverts drunk on my birthday."

"Actually, make that three." Y/n gestured behind her. "Sergeant Barnes over there has requested some as well."

"Bucky? My best friend finally decided to come to one of Tony's parties and decided not to tell me?!" Steve stood on his tiptoes to catch a glimpse of Bucky timidly standing at the end of the bar.

"HEY BUCK, I HEARD Y/N FINALLY CONVINCED YOU TO GET WASTED!" He hollered towards him.

Thor handed her the bottle and smiled widely. "There's plenty more where that came from."

Y/n chuckled weakly and began making her way back to Bucky.

"So whaddya think Natasha, can I take you out for a date?"

Y/n snapped her head back to see Nat blinking madly at what had just came out of Steve mouth.

"Finally." Y/n laughed to herself before heading back to Bucky.

She sat down on the barstool next to his and set the bottle down on the counter. "Okay... this is it."

"And this stuff will actually get us drunk?" Bucky lifted the bottle and gently shook the liquid in the glass.

"Apparently. He said it's not meant for mortal men, but Steve seems to be doing just... fine." They both glanced in Steve's direction, watching as he tried to reason with Nat.

"She better say yes." Y/n mumbled under her breath before turning her attention back to the mead.

Bucky requested two shot glasses and two normal glasses for the two of them from the bartender. He poured the dark liquid into the larger glasses and gestured for Y/n to pick her's up.

"Let's start with a small sip first, just to get a taste beforehand." He suggested. Y/n nodded and hesitantly lifted the glass to her lips. "On a count of three."

"One." She began.

"Two."

"...Three."

Y/n immediately coughed as soon as the drink had passed her lips. Bucky scrunched his face. "This shit is strong." Was all he managed.

Y/n stared into the glass for a moment, before dumping the remainder of the drink into her shot glass. "Okay, I'm done waiting." Without thinking, she downed the contents of the glass and let out a shaky breath. "Woah."

Bucky scanned her face for any hint of regret, to which she just smiled wickedly. "Your turn."

He lifted the glass, stopping for one moment, before tipping his head back, forcing the drink down his throat.

"Oh god." He gaped. "That's definitely not from this planet."

"Definitely not."