Disclaimer: I do not own any Marvel characters mentioned, they belong to Marvel. I own my OCs.
"Where are you taking me Wilson?"
Sam smirks. "Best food in Brooklyn. You'll love it."
"And how did you hear about it?" his voice laced with a skeptical tone. "You don't even live in Brooklyn."
"Stumbled upon it. Lighten up man, it's good food at insanely stupid prices."
"Meaning?"
"You'll see."
They come upon a 24 hour diner taking up half a block. He's impressed but he ain't gonna tell Sam though. Bucky lowers his cap a little more out of habit. The former assassin wears a light jacket to cover his metal arm; might send people into a frenzy if they see it gleaming in the sun.
Coming into the diner at 3 p.m. it's on the slower side. Opening the door causes the bell to ring. Few heads turn in their direction but barely pay them any attention.
"Yo, where my grits at?"
"Deonte's nae 'ere, Wilson. Chill!" a female Scottish accent voice shouts.
A face soon appears belonging to the voice. Bucky's perception of time freezes. It's like he's looking back in time. He can't stop his voice from speaking.
"Fergus? Seamus Fergus?"
"Dude."
"Ah don't worry about it. Ain't the first time someone's confused me wi' mah Pops. So," she wipes her hands with a rag. "Who'd ye bring around this time?"
"A buddy of mine who recently got out of the service."
Well…it's not a lie but more of a half-truth. Bucky isn't sure whether to slap Sam upside the head or thank him. He'll have to decide later.
"He looking fur a job?"
She looks Bucky over. He shows all of the signs of someone who's still on the edge and hasn't gotten used to being back in society. The young woman smiles. Bucky nods in acknowledgement.
"Nah." Sam waves it off. "Just wanted him to try the best food in all of New York City."
"Presumptuous, ain't he?" she tells Bucky. The man cracks a small smile. "Oh, where are mah manners? I'm Nessie Kirk. Mah grandfather's Seamus Fergus. Ye mind me asking how ye know him? Ye seem a bit on the young side."
Sam's ready to intervene but Bucky manages.
"My grandfather talked about him. They were in the 107th back in the day."
"Oh, what's yer grandfather's name?"
Bucky doesn't get the chance to respond when a large family bursts in. The whole group laughing and talking. One person spots Nessie.
"La Jefe!"
Everyone turns in her direction. They cheer. Nessie laughs.
"If ye boys will excuse me, there are some people Ah need to see. Go ahead and grab a seat anywhere. Shaniqua will be with ye shortly." Nessie walks over to the group. "Oi Pablo! Tu familia estas aqui!"
A cook with gang tattoos walks out from the kitchen. He smiles when he sees his family. Everyone chats.
Sam and Bucky grab a booth. A woman, in her mid-40s with her natural hair held back by a colorful scarf, arrives. She smiles at Sam.
"Well if it ain't Mr. Grits. Y'know Deonte ain't here."
"Nessie just told me. So, who's here?"
"Well, Pablo gonna be busy cause his family's here now. Mama Benny's here though."
Sam smiles. "Mama Benny? Ohhhhh, I'm gettin' her fried chicken and mac and cheese."
"Boy, you gonna make her proud." Shaniqua jots down his order. She looks over at Bucky. "What about you Sugar?"
"Uh…"
Bucky glances around unsure of what to get. It's not like there's a menu he can look at. Shaniqua notes his hesitation.
She smiles softly. "You know, Granny Jane made some homemade chicken noodle. How about it? It'll make your soul feel good." Bucky nods. The woman smiles again; happily this time. "Alright, two Grandma specials. It'll be right out. Anything to drink?"
"Bottle of Coke."
Bucky's eyes widen with shock. "You have Coke in a glass bottle?"
"Sure do Sugar. We get it straight from Mexico. That shit's better than what we got here."
"I'll take a bottle too."
"You got it," and she leaves.
Two minutes later, Shaniqua comes back with the two bottles and a bottle opener.
"Enjoy."
"Thanks Shaniqua."
"Thank you."
"Anytime boys."
The woman heads back to work. Sam uses the opener and takes a swig. Bucky doesn't. All he has to do is twist it off with his hand but he doesn't take a sip yet; the man's hesitant. Will it taste the same way all those years ago? Better not to get my hopes up. Sam notices his hesitation.
"Just take a sip. If you don't like it, you can get another drink."
Bucky looks down at the open bottle. He takes the plunge. The familiar taste brings back fond memories from before the war. Bucky smiles. Sam too.
Shortly afterward their order arrives. Each of them digging into their food. Sam's gushing over his food making happy noises. Bucky can't get over the fact of how close this tasted to his mom's recipe. During their meal, Nessie finally joins them.
She pulls a chair from one of the tables and sets it close to them. The Scottish/American woman has a tendency to sit with the back of the chair facing her; she loves leaning on it. A smile forms on her face.
"Ye liking it?"
"Where has Mama Benny been my whole life? This is the best fried chicken and mac and cheese."
"She's been in Harlem ye divit. Mama Benny comes here every Tuesday and Thursday."
"But it's Wednesday."
"Deonte had a family emergency. Don't know a lot of the details but Ah assured him he's still getting paid."
"Are you sure you should be doing that? You'll get in trouble with the owner."
"A'm enforcing the policy. Pops made this policy when he opened up the diner. 'Should ye miss work due to personal issues, ye will get paid for however days missed.' We treat everyone here like family." She glances over at Bucky, "Ye like the soup? Granny Jane makes the best in all of Brooklyn."
"Almost taste like my mom's."
Sam's surprised. Bucky rarely talks about his past before the war. Of course he has Steve but his memories, though, are coming back piece by piece.
"Glad ye like it," Nessie smiles.
Bucky mutters some words. Nessie didn't catch it. She leans in closer.
"Eh?"
"Do you have a Russian cook?"
"Ah." Nessie leans back. "Grandmother wise or someone roughly from this generation?"
"The latter."
"Ah have twin Russian cooks; Mika and Igo. Best I've got. They normally come for the dinner shift."
"Good to know."
"Nes, you told me something awhile back and I don't think I heard you right." Sam stares straight into her eyes. "You hire convicts?"
"And homeless vets."
"Why on Earth would you do that?"
"Depending on the crime, everyone deserves a second chance."
"Aren't you worried about some of their…"friends" dropping by?"
Nessie smirks. "Don't ye worry Wilson. All good here."
Sam takes that as the end of the conversation. Nessie excuses herself to attend other guests. They finish their lunch shortly afterwards. Shaniqua comes back to their table and drops off the check. Bucky goes to grab it but Sam snatches it.
"My treat. You can get the next one."
Bucky grumbles. Tony set up an account for him; he's barely touched the money. Sam smirks. He shows him the bill. The former assassin's brows furrow together.
"See? Told you it's insanely stupid prices."
They head over to the register to pay. Nessie cashes them out.
"$2.50."
"Shit that's expensive," Sam complains.
"Well," she shrugs. "Yer paying fur two."
Sam pouts at Bucky. "You owe me."
Bucky turns his gaze to Nessie. Confusion set in his blue eyes.
"How?"
"How what?"
"How can all of this cost $2.50? Anywhere else would charge between $10 and $15."
"Well, we're not anywhere else. Pops never changed the prices plus sometimes people come in here with not a lot in their pockets. They pay with whatever they have and we give them a hot meal."
"And you're still in business?" he raises a skeptical brow.
"Aye. Now if ye want to know more either come back or grab a pint wi' me. Completely yer choice."
He doesn't know how to respond to that. Sam's just smirking at their interaction. He pays the bill. Nessie thanks him. They leave. Sam still has the smirk on his face. Bucky notices.
"What?"
Sam shrugs. "Nothing."
"Whatever," Bucky mumbles.
As they head back to the Tower, Sam's been texting Steve.
"You remember Nessie?"
"From Fergus' Diner? Yes."
"Just finished lunch with Barnes there. He couldn't believe the prices."
"That's how I felt. What's this got to do with Nessie?"
"Barnes started asking too many questions. She stopped him by asking him out."
"You sure? What did she say exactly?"
"She said 'If you want to know more either come back or grab a pint with me.' I was standing right there."
"What did Bucky say?"
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing."
"That's a first."
"Dude, he got asked out on a date. Should I tell him?"
"Better to wait until you get back."
"Sure thing."