Joel

[nola_steve]

Backdated to V-Day 

It was Valentine's Day, which he remembered pretty much only because he'd made heart-shaped pancakes for anyone who'd wanted them that morning. Otherwise? For Steve, it was just a day like any other.

It wasn't that he turned his nose up at commercial holidays. He was a straight-up sucker for Christmas. It was just...this was a day all about romantic love, and that was a bug that had never managed to bite, no matter how many friends tried to set him up. So he wasn't exactly paying attention to what was going on around him until he headed into the campus cafe to grab lunch and realized the entire place was packed.

Also? They'd gone out of their way to make it look cozy and romantic, with candles flickering at each table.

"...huh," Steve said, looking around for somewhere to sit. He'd already gotten his food ordered and had his sweet tea in hand, but there didn't appear to be a single clear table in the place.

Before he could turn back and cancel his order (maybe try somewhere a little less quaint?), one of the waitresses caught his eye. "We're asking people to double up tables, if they don't mind," she explained, making a sheepish face. "We already got a few people to agree. Here," she added, grabbing a chair at a small two-seater table. A vaguely familiar young man sat in the other seat. "Sit here."

Steve stepped forward, then cocked his head as the man looked at him. "You sure you don't mind?" he asked with a friendly-yet-rueful smile.

Comments

[nola_steve]

"And then, lo, he rises like a magnificent phoenix from the ashes to shake his fair plumage at quarterly faculty events."

[nola_buckybarnes]

"Am I making fun of your work best friend? Sorry."

[nola_steve]

"You should be. Shameful, youths today." He propped his chin on his fist, grinning, eyes bright. Utterly relaxed despite the butterflies playing pingpong in his chest.

[nola_buckybarnes]

Joel would give up going to Williams' classes, all classes, just to have that smile directed his way. It was all worth it. He was speechless for a long moment, but finally managed to say, "Shameless Youths is my band name."

[nola_steve]

"Sounds real punk," he laughed, just as his food arrived. Steve turned his attention toward the waiting, smiling his thanks and engaging in a quick, friendly back-and-forth that had her practically fluttering before leaving their table with a grin.

He turned back to Joel. "So, your studies. Tell me about them."

[nola_buckybarnes]

Joel watched the server walk off with some apprehension, but he didn't know if he was worried or jealous, or why. He looked back at Williams. "Uh, history. It's good?"

[nola_steve]

"I hear it's pretty fundamental to our understanding of ourselves," he said. "And, you know, history."

[nola_buckybarnes]

"Also to the memorization of battle dates." At least, that's what it seemed like to Joel a lot of the time.

[nola_steve]

"Well, maybe that part's just for busywork. Or to give you vital reference for important ideas."

[nola_buckybarnes]

"It's just frustrating when more and more WWII survivors are dying every day, and I could be interviewing them but I'm memorizing dates instead."

[nola_steve]

"Well," he said slowly. "As it so happens, I know a couple if you'd like an introduction."

[nola_buckybarnes]

"I would love that, honestly, but I don't have a project, or funding for a project, and I don't want to put veterans through difficult questions without a strong direction."

[nola_steve]

"That's fair," he agreed. "If you change your mind, or just want to meet some great people and get trounced at SCRABBLE--because believe me, they love nothing more--let me know."

[nola_buckybarnes]

"Would you take me?" Joel asked, and he really didn't mean the double entendre.

[nola_steve]

"Yeah," Steve said, surprised by how much he wanted to. "Of course. I'd be happy to, Buck."

[nola_buckybarnes]

Joel's face went blank. "I have to go, sorry," he said abruptly, standing. "I just remembered—something. Sorry."

He remembered, he remembered, he remembered.

[nola_steve]

"Oh," Steve said, startled--and disappointed, though that was ten pounds of crazy in a five pound bag. He stood as well, manners instinctual. "Of course. It was real nice meeting you. Maybe I'll see you around campus sometime."

[nola_buckybarnes]

Joel turned and walked backward a few steps, raising his hand in goodbye with a little smile. This was the one part that all made sense—Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers would always find each other.

[nola_steve]

He gave an awkward little wave back before slowly sinking back into his seat, watching Joel go for a moment--then forcing himself to turn back to his food, perfectly normal.