"If he didn't, he probably does now," Bucky said, his tone a bit flat. "What with his all-seeing house and all."

Steve shrugged. "I wouldn't worry about it too much," he offered cautiously. "Tony doesn't let people stay who he doesn't want around."

"We'll see," Bucky said, pushing his glass away. He didn't feel like any more mead anymore.

Steve got up and got them both water, snagging another cookie. "Cheer up, Buck, you have a date to look forward to now."

Bucky snorted. "So do you, Stevie," he pointed out. He grinned a bit, even though it didn't really reach his eyes. "That'll be something."

"Yeah." Steve nudged him. "Maybe if you ask nicely Jarvis will give you pictures of me making a fool of myself."

"Nah, guy likes you," Bucky said. "I don't think he'd rat on you like that."

Steve chuckled. "Maybe," he agreed. "Hard to say, it probably depends what Doreen tries to talk him into."

Bucky snorted.

"She's got a scary amount of influence around here," he commented.

"Yes she does," Steve said with a grin. "So does Laurel, but usually in a less obvious way. I wouldn't have expected it if I hadn't seen it myself."

"It's bizarre," Bucky said. He sipped his water slowly.

"It is and it isn't. They adjusted much faster than anyone else would have, they are our PR team, and they're... unique. You've seen them both deal with the team, they don't have any problems with that. Can't exactly be a pushover to deal with us." Steve shrugged.

"You've got a thing for her," Bucky said, grinning. "You always did like forceful dames."

Steve chuckled. "I wouldn't have agreed to ask her out if I didn't have a thing for her," he pointed out.

"To shut me up? Sure you would," Bucky said. "But you honestly have a thing for her. You'd be asking her out everywhere, if we were back then. Dancing, the drive-in, that diner four streets down we liked."

"There are some nice diners here," Steve pointed out. "Who knows, I might ask her to one of them." Because yes, he could agree that he did very much like Laurel.

"You can't tell me you found any diners like what we grew up with," Bucky said, raising an eyebrow.

"No, you're right." Steve paused for a moment. "They don't boil everything anymore." He grinned.

Bucky snorted, and then broke down into snickers.

"No, they don't," he agreed. "Stuff tastes different now too."

"It does." Steve grinned. "Sometimes it tastes better. Since there's no more rationing."

"No kidding," Bucky said. "Though I kind of miss the burgers we used to get from that place a few streets over."

"Those burgers were great," Steve agreed. "I've found some that are similar." Which was better than nothing.

"Really?" Bucky asked. "Where?" Because he wanted to know where to find burgers that were almost as good as he remembered.

"Over in Brooklyn, I'll take you tomorrow if you want." Steve grinned. "I've been by a few times, they know to give me some room."

Bucky considered that for a moment before cautiously nodding. He knew people still didn't necessarily like him much.

"Sure," he said. "Sounds good."