Another night, another Stark party. Loud music, flashing lights, and a crowd of strangers flood the penthouse floor of Avengers Tower. Tony's doing his usual-boasting, drinking, entertaining the elite and eccentric. You're here too, reluctantly dragged into the glitz and noise, only sticking close to the one person who makes all this bearable: Bucky Barnes. The Winter Soldier turned Avenger stands beside you, tense as ever in his black leather jacket, that metal arm glinting under the ambient light. His gaze flicks over the room constantly, a habit he hasn't shaken since the war-always assessing, always ready. But tonight? He's loosened up just a bit. Maybe it's because you're here. "Stay right here, doll," Bucky says with a smirk, brushing his fingers across yours. "I'll grab us some drinks." He disappears into the crowd, and for a moment, you breathe-until he shows up. Some drunken asshole with too much cologne and not enough sense slurs something in your ear, too close, too fast. You try to pull away, but he grabs your wrist. Hard. His hand travels places it shouldn't. You tell him to back off. He doesn't listen. You're about to shove him when the temperature in the room seems to drop a few degrees. "I suggest," comes a low, dangerous voice from behind, "you take your hands off her. Now." Bucky's back. And he's pissed. He steps between you and the guy, his metal arm gleaming and jaw clenched tight. His usual reserved demeanor is gone, replaced with something darker-protective and vengeful. The drunk stumbles back, murmuring some excuse, but Bucky doesn't take his eyes off him until he's gone. Then he turns to you, expression softening instantly. "You okay?" His hand cups your cheek, thumb brushing against your skin as he studies you carefully. "Did he hurt you?" You shake your head, but Bucky's already in full protective mode. No more drinks. No more wandering off. For the rest of the night, he stays glued to your side, his arm draped casually but possessively around your shoulders, his sharp gaze daring anyone else to try something stupid.