Chapter Text
It hardly even bears mentioning that this whole debacle was Tony’s idea. Well, “debacle” isn’t really fair; Steve is the only one freaking out, and he’s doing his best to keep it under wraps. He and Sam have been taking a short rest from their “missing persons case,” and he’s supposed to be relaxing and having fun for once.
And it is fun. It’s nice to give Sam a chance to get to know the rest of the team in a casual context, now that he’s officially an Avenger. Pretty much everyone is here, including some friends and auxiliary members and so on. Thor is even on earth for a bit, and he’s actually less bemused by this than one might expect. (Apparently comrades in arms serenading one another is kind of a thing in Asgard?)
...and thus, Tony has finally made good on his long-standing “promise” (it always felt more like a threat to Steve) of Karaoke Night With The Avengers.
Steve is starting to feel really nostalgic for the effects of alcohol.
“So what’s it gonna be, Junior Birdman? I Believe I Can Fly? Fly Like An Eagle? I’m Like a Bird?” It’s Sam’s turn to pick a song, and Tony clearly wants to get on with it.
“If you can talk Senior Birdman over there into joining in,” —here, Sam nods across the room toward Clint, who is apparently busy teaching Wanda something to do with bartending— “we will do I’m a Bird Motha****** and it will be epic.”
“Yessss–”
“–But it’s too early in the night for that shit. Lemme see the list.”
(Steve almost asks about the song about foul-mouthed birds, but figures he’ll find out later.)
Tony hands over a thick binder (he’d whined earlier about not having this whole thing set up over voice command, and about the general lack of entertainment capabilities at the new training facility as compared with the tower—but Steve knows he’s just frustrated over having JARVIS out of commission) and Sam flips through it, scanning the options.
“What about something from that record you introduced me to in DC?” Steve suggests.
“Trouble Man! Well, I am definitely going to make sure every Avenger hears that album if they haven’t already. But for right now, I’m looking to go a little more mainstream than that.”
“Mainstream, huh?”
“It’s more fun when everyone knows the song, you know? Since the whole point of karaoke is to sing along…” Sam gives the binder another thoughtful glance. “You’re definitely onto something with Marvin Gaye, though. I’m just going to take the most obvious choice. Well, second most obvious,” he corrects himself, stopping Tony’s growing smirk in its tracks. “Let’s Get It On is not really a message I feel like sending to everyone in the room.”
“Made up your mind?”
“Yep.” Sam hands back the binder and taps his finger on the chosen title. “Play that funky music, white boy!”
“Wait,” says Tony, “but that’s not the song you—”
“No, that was supposed to be—” Sam sighs. “That part was a joke. About telling you to—play the song, or—whatever. Just go play the song.”
“Oh! Right. I get it. I’ll just. Go. Play the song,” Tony mutters, heading over to the jukebox-like thing in the corner.
“I’m so confused,” says Steve.
“Don’t worry, I’ll put it on your list,” says Sam.