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It's early in the morning and the Thunderbolts are gathered in the kitchen arguing over what to make for breakfast. Ava and Bucky are posted by the coffee machine. Ava grumbles about the machine being busted with Bucky adding on how Valentina still refuses to fix it despite having more than enough money to do so. Alexei is trying to convince Yelena to let him make pancakes. Yelena refuses to let him even get near the stove and reminds him about last time while pointing to the pancake from last time still stuck to the ceiling. Bob is sat on top of the island counter where John is seated on a stool next to where Bob is perched.
“Man, I would kill for some Waffle House right about now” John remarks to no one in particular.
Bob hums in agreement, “Same” he says with a sigh.
Ava looks over at the pair with a puzzled expression on her face, “What is a Waffle House?” she asks with her eyebrow raised.
“I was wondering the same thing,” Bucky says.
Alexei and Yelena had stopped their bickering in favor of listening to Bob’s answer.
“It's just some chain diner with really good breakfast” Bob explained, “I haven’t been to one in forever”.
“You know,” John pipes up, “we could take one of the Quinjets to a Waffle House”.
“That’s such a stupid idea, we would have to go down to the south just for one meal” Yelena interjects.
“Let's do it!” Alexei voices “For team building!”.
Bucky sighs, “I’ll go get the Quinjet started” he says, before heading to the elevator.
When the Quinjet finally touches down in the parking lot, Bob leads the way followed closely by John, and the rest of the bunch. As soon as the door closes behind them, Alexei is at the jukebox and trying to find the song American Pie so he can play it for Yelena, who is trying to get him away before he finds it. Ava phases over to a far seat at the counter. John finds an empty booth and taps Bob’s shoulder before walking over to it.
“Why does the floor feel sticky?” Bucky asks with a grimace on his face.
Bob chuckles before answering "That's just part of the charm” and moving to the booth where John is sat.
Bucky heads over to where Ava is sitting with two mugs of coffee. She slides one over to him before taking a sip of her own mug. John is sitting opposite Bob in the booth and is only half listening to the story that Bob is telling him. Yelena walks over with Alexei while American Pie plays from the jukebox.
“Wow,” Yelena says with a lack of tone that only she possesses, “are we interrupting some sort of date?” she jokes.
Bob flushes a shade of pink all over his face that John finds adorable, meanwhile his own face turns a shade of red that makes him resemble a tomato. Bob stammers out how she's got it all wrong, while John simply lifts his menu to hide himself. Alexei slides into the seat next to John and starts talking with Yelena, who is sat next to Bob. John can hear two people, which he can tell are Ava and Bucky by their footsteps, walking over to the booth.
Once everyone is finished with their breakfast, Bucky walks up to the register to pay for the meal (with Val’s card of course). As everyone begins to head to the Quinjet, Bob gently grabs John's wrist.
“Can you hang back for a second?” he asks with a slight shake in his voice.
John doesn't question it though and stands outside of the Quinjet.
Bob stands in front of John, nervously wringing his hands while John's own hands are itching to do so, but he forces himself not to do so.
Bob takes a breath, “So about what Yelena said earlier at the booth?" he asks, “She said that we were on a date, which we both know isn't true.
The thing is, I really wish that she wasn’t wrong” he confesses. John is stunned silent, unable to believe this is happening to him.
Bob takes notice of his silence and starts stammering out an attempt to fix it “I-it’s alright if you don’t f-feel the same way. W-we can just pretend that this never happened” he says.
John can’t think of what to say so he resorts to a more forward way of answering Bob. He takes a step towards Bob, who proceeds to take a step backwards.
“John?” his voice is uncertain “I’m really sorry! I shouldn't have said that ok? It was stupid of me to think you could feel that same way.”
He opens his mouth again to continue the stream of apologies but is cut off by John's lips sealing his own in a searing kiss. For a moment, Bob is frozen, then he grabs hold of John at the hips and kisses back just as strong. John pulls away, Bob chases his lips.
“You thought I didn't feel the same way about you?” John asks with a slightly amused look on his face.
“Just shut up and kiss me again” Bob says before connecting their lips again, the kiss is gentle and sweet this time.
When Bob and John get back to the tower, Mel is there waiting for them.
“You do know that the Quinjets have microphones on them, right?” she asks, eyebrow raised at the pair.
Bob stands frozen, he can't help but worry if that means that Val knows as well, thankfully John asks that question for him.
“Do you plan on telling Valentina about this?” he asks, posture straighter that it was a moment ago.
“No,” Mel responds, “Just thought you should know that I already got you a reservation to that Italian place you two always got to” she admits with a wink.
“We're still using Val’s card to pay for it though” John says with a smirk, to which Bob chuckles.
Mel laughs with him, “Have fun boys” she says before passing them to the elevator.
Yelena hears this from around a corner and walks off to her room.
John just finished getting ready and is walking down the hall towards the elevator to meet Bob in the lobby, when he feels a surprisingly strong grip on his arm pull him into Yelena's room. The door shuts behind him with Yelena standing next to him.
“What are your intentions with my Bob?” she questions him with a stern voice.
“I want to give him all the care in the world and more,” John responds, “It’s what he deserves” he adds in a gentle tone.
“Very well,” Yelena says with a stiff singular nod, "don't make him wait any longer”.
John heads down to the lobby and gives Bob a soft kiss when he sees him. The pair share a wonderful night together and if John leaves Bob's room rather than his own in the morning, well who’s to confirm or deny.