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fandomweekly2025-03-25 01:40 am
[#253] When the Lights Go Out (Captain America Movies)
Title: When the Lights Go Out (Ao3 link)
Fandom: Captain America (Anthony Mackie Movies)
Rating/Warnings: Teen and Up Audiences for language; set post-Brave New World, mild mention of minor canon event.
Bonuss yes
Word Count: 1000
Summary: Joaquín hosts a date in his place to make sure it’s perfect; of course, the power blackout wasn’t in the plan.
Joaquín made sure, four times, that everything was ready for their date.
It was their third date, and he had volunteered to host it at his apartment, so everything had to be perfect.
The new recipe he tried turned out really well, and the delicious dish awaited the arrival of Sam and Bucky to be heated up and enjoyed while Joaquín double-cleaned the living room. He made sure the couch was correctly placed, that the cushions were cosy enough, and that he had a movie selection wide enough for them to find something they’d all enjoyed.
Joaquín planned their evening down to the last detail, focused on making sure his partners were comfortable and relaxed after a long week of work abroad. Sam had just returned from a diplomatic meeting in Tokyo, and Bucky had been in Europe for a week hosting galas for possible investors in his campaign. He was so excited to see them, that the second they knocked on the door, he forgot everything he had planned.
Quickly he steadied himself, wiped the sweat from his hands on his jeans, and opened the door. Sam brought a red wine bottle that would go perfectly with their meat dish, and Bucky had got a few ice-cream tubes that were Joaquín’s favourite brand, and only available in a bodega at the other side of town.
They greeted Joaquín with a hug each, and stepped into the apartment they had once turned a movie night into their getting together after a cushion fight. Sam had called it their first day the morning after, when they were sharing coffee mugs and stealing toasts from each other’s plates, but of course Bucky refused to call it a date because he said “he would have done things properly” and then asked them on their first ‘real’ date. Joaquín had stuck with Sam on that one, so while technically (following Bucky’s reasoning) this would be their second date, they called it their third. And Joaquín was going to try his best to beat up the previous one where Bucky had taken them to a restaurant that was way out of their league (but they had a super romantic poly-date and everything was very cool, Joaquín must admit).
In his apartment, the ambiance was perfect, with low music and lowlights to enjoy their dinner with a candlelight in the middle of the table, and everything went perfect until they finished eating and moved onto the couch, taking the ice-cream and ready to pick up a movie to watch. Because of course, Joaquín hadn’t planned the power outrage that, by a quick look from his balcony, affected half his block.
They hadn’t realised it had started to rain until a thunderclap lit up the whole sky, crossing the city and leaving them plunged into darkness afterwards. “Okay, this wasn’t in the plan …” Joaquín said, hurrying to come back inside and close the door.
He had been confidently orchestrating the whole evening until now, but at that moment, Joaquín froze up, unsure of what to do next. Sam reached out to his phone, and Joaquín saw the glow of his screen for a second before Sam groaned.
“Shit, I forgot to charge it. Battery’s dead,” he lamented.
Bucky was immediately on high alert, glancing over his shoulder and scanning the room as if expecting a surprise attack. His soldier-brain made him forget that they had been safe for hours there, and his instincts just kicked in despite knowing it’s just the storm.
Joaquín regained his composure before Bucky could start spiralling, and came to his side to place a calming hand on his shoulder. “I have more candles where that one came from,” he said, realising that the one on the dinner table was, though small, still burning.
“And a flashlight?” Bucky asked, curious.
“That too,” Joaquín comforted him. “Let’s go.”
Sam and Bucky followed him carefully, as Joaquín walked smoothly through his apartment. They hadn’t had the chance to memorise every item and furniture piece there yet, otherwise they would have already passed him on his way to the kitchen.
Almost no light reached where they stood, now blocked by their tall figures as they searched through the shelves and drawers. Joaquín had put away the matches box and he didn’t remember where it had ended up; neither where he kept the flashlight he had never had to use in that place.
“Got it!” Sam suddenly made the other two jump.
“What are we holding on to?” Bucky asked after reaching out to Sam’s hand; he was sure that wasn’t a flashlight.
“My soup ladle!” Joaquín exclaimed after touching it too. “I thought it was lost!”
After laughing at Sam until he threatened them with no kisses for the rest of the night, they resumed their search and eventually only found the matches and more candles.
They came back to the living room and set a line of three on the coffee table, lighting them up and finally seeing their faces again. “You know, if the power stays out, we’re technically reducing our carbon footprint. You’re welcome, Earth.”
“I’ve survived battles, alien invasions, and weird Avengers parties. I think I can handle a little candlelit blackout,” Sam remarked.
Bucky was finally relaxing a bit, sitting on the couch. “I’ve gone without power in Siberian winters. This? This is luxury.”
Joaquín smiled. “Maybe we call it a night? I’ve got plenty of blankets —we can turn this into a sleepover.”
They gather blankets, pillows, and what was left of the wine bottle, and settle down on the couch or floor, listening as the storm continues outside.
Joaquín felt Bucky trying to reach his pillow and being everything but subtle about it, so he decided to tease him. “I don’t share the good pillows.”
“Lucky you, I need no pillows,” Sam ignored him, pulling Joaquín towards him and resting his face on Joaquín’s chest.
Bucky rolled his eyes. “You’re so adorable it’s disgusting. Third date’s at my place.”
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