Chapter 19: Here Comes the Sun

Bucky's breath was slow and even, his muscles actually relaxed as he laid against the mat. His muscles still burned a little from the yoga session; Mika had stepped up her lesson plans as of late, really trying to make him sweat. Of course, in turn, that meant she had to work really hard as well. He could hear her quiet, rhythmic breathing on the other side of the mat, and for a moment he thought she had fallen asleep. A sharp intake of breath alerted him that she was, in fact, still awake. It also jump started his entire body, and in a moment, he was up and scanning the area around them for potential threats. He couldn't sense any, but Mika was pulling on her socks and her shoes more fervently than usual.

"Oops, we were relaxing a little longer than I intended!" she said by way of explanation, stuffing the light sweatshirt she'd worn on the walk over into her bag. He guessed his expression must have given his inner thoughts away, and this helped the alarms subside. "What's on the docket for next week, boss?"

After his heart rate returned to normal, he consulted his journal, but check marks completely filled the margin of his list. He checked the next page, but checks lined that page as well. He furrowed his brows, closing it and slipping it into his backpack. "It seems we have finished the list." he said, pulling the straps over his shoulders. With the statement actually aloud in the open, he realized that meant there would be no excuse for them to hang out on Saturday mornings. What would that mean for their friendship? It had become a bit of a tradition over the past few months.

"What? I've graduated?" she asked, her expression excited. He felt like his heart descended a couple inches into his stomach, though he didn't understand why. He should be happy, his friend had made it through his curriculum. Now his training would stop pulling at him, telling him that this was wrong. Why wasn't he happy?

"Yes, yes you have." he said, giving her a smile. Her excitement faltered for a second, and he wondered what she was thinking. Luckily, he didn't have to try and figure it out, or wait long for any answers. For once, she spoke her mind readily.

"Does that mean we won't have our Saturday morning workouts anymore?" she asked, her face falling for a moment. Her hands played with the strap of her gym bag, her nervous tell. It hadn't occurred to him that she would want to continue spending time with him once their self defense course finished. Well, of course she would want to spend time with him, they were friends. But he figured they would just discontinue their sessions, and maintain their periodic movie nights.

"I don't have anything else to teach you." he said. It was somewhat truth - any beginner or intermediate defensive maneuver in his repertoire. Anything else would require more advanced foundational training.

"That is a bold faced lie." she said, crossing her arms and putting all her weight on one hip. His blood ran cold at her words. Did she know? Did she figure out his secrets? "My memory might be a little hazy, but I remember you having some skills. You could take a guy down in one hit."

"I thought we were only doing defensive things." he said, trying to bring down his heart rate. Of course that was what she was talking about. What else would she be talking about? He shut down his train of thought, focusing on her.

"Well, maybe we can learn some...offense. And by 'we,' I of course mean me, because you obviously already know everything. About fighting, that is. And a lot of other random stuff too, which is pretty cool." she pressed her lips together to stop the flow of words. Nine months of friendship, and she still tended to ramble whenever she asked a favor. He couldn't hide his grin, even if there was a swirl of nerves in his stomach at the idea. He shouldn't teach her those things. Even if he hadn't had a flashback since New Year's Eve, he didn't want to risk hurting her. But he also liked their training sessions. They were the closest thing to fun that he had. They weren't like the other ones he'd given in the past; in fact, they felt like they were patching over those terrible memories that still haunted him at night.

"Are you sure?" he asked. He should have said no, but that was what he said instead. Her smile brightened, and his heart returned to its normal position in his chest.

"Absolutely! If I can be half as badass as you are, I think I'll be set." she said. She was gripping the strap to her bag now, but not in nervousness. He let his breath out in an almost-laugh. If only she knew that he would literally give his life for her to never experience the things that made him so badass.

"I'll do the best I can." he said, swallowing. His mouth had gone dry. Part of him was tremendously on edge, regretting this decision. The what if's were flying through his mind at a mile a minute, plaguing him with reasons to recant his statement. But the look on Mika's face and her easy demeanor brought out another side of him, the side of him that wanted to hang out with his friend, the side of him that wanted to do something enjoyable. He could use this to sharpen his fundamentals and keep up his skills. At least, that's how he tried to rationalize it to the part of his brain that was sounding the alarms. That was the part of his brain that he usually chose to ignore.

Mika gave a whoop in excitement, looking for a moment like she wanted to hug him. She held herself back, instead raising her hand and waiting for him to smack his palm against hers. "Excellent. You are the best." she said, which replaced the ice in his blood with warmth. "Now come on, we're going to be late if we don't get a move on."

"Late for what?" he asked. As far as he knew, there was no time limit on having coffee at her apartment. Was the coffee maker automatic now? Could it be set on a timer? Technology was incredible nowadays.

"It's the first weekend in May, Bucky! The Farmer's Market opens today." she said, finally moving towards the exit. He followed her out of the gym and onto the sidewalk, the sun shining brightly on the sleepy town. She stretched her arms over her head, soaking in the light. Winter had lasted a little longer than intended, and she was just starting to get a little bit of tan on her pale skin.

"Farmer's Market?" he asked. Why did the farmers have their own market? Wasn't that just, in fact, a regular market? She gave a happy sigh.

"They have the best produce and homemade stuff around. There's one guy who grounds his own flours, another guy who makes his own cheese, one woman fresh presses this amazing fruit juice...it's the best weekend of the spring. You should come with me." she said, turning and walking backwards for a moment so she could look him in the eye. He perked a single eyebrow; he was used to her random invitations by now, and was generally confident in accepting them. But this was something new, something uncharted. It was different than going to the cafe down the street, or the new coffee shop a few blocks over.

"What kind of produce do they have?" he asked, eyeing her feet and the area behind her as she continued to walk backwards. It made him nervous. What if she tripped on something, or ran into someone? She was clearly not focusing completely on her surroundings, and she didn't seem to care. She smiled brightly, unaware as always of her precarious position.

"Anything you could possibly want." she replied, finally turning back around and walking forward. "And they taste exponentially better than the ones you get at the store."

"I don't think flavor can be measured with exponents." Bucky pointed out. After all, taste was subjective, and therefore could not be reliably quantified. Mika gave him a sour look, which made him smile again. There was something gratifying about pissing her off like that.

"It can. Trust me. I know a scientist." she said, narrowing her eyes. They reached the apartment building, and she surprised him by going towards the door. He thought they were going shopping. Were they stopping for coffee first?

"I thought we were going to the Farmer's Market?" he asked, though he had no idea which direction the market was. There was no set plan here, which made him nervous. Mika didn't mind spontaneity, but it tended to make him uncomfortable. The only reason he allowed it was because she had yet to lead him astray.

"Oh, we are. I just want to change first and grab my big bag. I'm about to spend way too much money and it's going to be totally worth it." she said, opening the door and waiting for him. Bucky shrugged, holding the door open and following her in. Mika took the steps faster than usual today, likely due to her excitement. She unlocked her door and paused halfway in, turning back to him. "Are you changing too?"

He looked down at his sweatpants and tshirt, deciding that he would probably be more comfortable in his jeans in boots. That way, if he needed to make a quick escape, he would be better equipped for the elements. And he should apparently also grab a bigger backpack, in case he encountered all of the produce he needed for the week. "Yes." he replied, turning and unlocking his own door. Mika had moved into her apartment, leaving the door partially open. Should he alert her to this safety hazard? No, he didn't want scare her. If anything were to happen, he was close enough to handle the situation.

After changing his clothing and switching his necessary items to his larger backpack, he returned to the hallway to wait. He could hear Mika humming in her apartment, the leather soles of her boots tapping against the linoleum. She'd traded her bright leggings for some dark ones, and tied a flannel shirt around her waist. A large denim bag was slung over her shoulder, the thick strap crossing over her body. "Ready?" she asked, tying her hair into a braid. He gave a curt nod.

"Ready." he agreed. Mika pulled her door closed, then immediately stopped and grimaced. He realized there was no jingle of keys coming from her hand or her bag. "Your keys are inside, aren't they?" he asked dryly.

"Yes. One moment, please." she groaned, pulling a pin from her hair and picking her lock. It was scary, really, how good she was at that. He wondered if most of the locks in this building were similar, and if she had the ability to break into more apartments than just her own. He shook his head, knowing that there was no reason to believe Mika would do such a thing. He felt guilty just for letting the thought pass through his mind. Luckily he was distracted by her return, this time keys in hand. "Okay, now I'm ready to go."

He shook his head, letting out a low chuckle and following her as she went down the stairs. One of these days, he was going to tie her keys to her wrist. Soon they were back in the sunlight, walking at a quick clip down the street. He knew these places that they were walking by, but he didn't ever remember passing by a market. Mika took a turn and they were in a small town square, the entire central part covered by tents. There were a few people milling about and a few vendors still setting up, but overall it was still relatively quiet. Giant piles of fruits, vegetables, and other goods stood attractively in the spring sun, the gentle breeze bringing with it scents of earth and cinnamon. Bucky liked the Farmer's Market.

"Is negotiating allowed?" he asked, eyeing the stands and the people manning them. Most of them were middle aged, with their skin tanned and leathery from working in the sun. He'd never seen so many smiling people in one place, at least not that he could remember. Mika shot him an odd look, a mischievous grin in place.

"You mean haggling? Not only is it allowed, it's encouraged. Are you about to astound me with hidden bartering skills?" she asked, still smiling at him. She seemed oddly delighted at the prospect.

"I've been known to make a deal or two, back in my day." he said cryptically. She didn't need to know that by back in my day he meant somewhere around 1941. This open-air market was typical back when he was younger, and he had distinct memories of arguing with the men behind the tables. This didn't seem like the kind of place where he would yell until the men gave in.

"I can't wait to see you in action." she said, adjusting the strap of her large bag. The first few stands had massive mountains of vegetables, dirt still clinging to bits of them. Mika wasn't kidding; this was real, fresh food. He stopped at the first table, giving the teenage kid in front of him one of his bigger smiles. He was discreetly aware of Mika off to the side, pretending to tie her shoe but also keeping an eye on him. She was not near as subtle as she thought she was.

"What's up?" the kid asked, giving him a fake smile as an afterthought. Based on his general posture, the shadows beneath his eyes, and his apathetic expression, Bucky assumed that his parent made him be there this morning.

"Looks like a good crop. How much?" he asked, nodding at the piles of potatoes between them.

"Fifteen lei." the kid said tiredly. He did not want to be awake this early. Bucky wondered if he could use this to his advantage. Most negotiations he'd been a part of over the past while usually involved guns, knives, his metal hand, or a combination of all three. This time, he only got his words. Not his strongest area.

"For a bunch? Sold." he said, going to reach into his pocket. He had a sneaking suspicion that wasn't what the boy meant, but it was worth a shot.

"Each." he replied, making Bucky's eyebrows ascend toward his hairline.

"Each? I can pay that at the grocery store a few kilometers from here." he said indignantly. Fifteen lei for a potato? Outrageous.

"Go ahead." the kid said with a shrug. Bucky tilted his head to the side, changing his expression to one of mild surprise.

"Kid, listen." he started, which may have been a bit of a mistake.

"Not a kid." he interrupted, even though he couldn't be older than sixteen.

"Man, listen." Bucky corrected. "I don't wanna give those pricks in the city the business, but I can't do fifteen. How's about thirty for a bunch?" he offered. He knew it was too low, but that wasn't really the price he was after. He'd be surprised if the kid went for it. As expected, he let out an unsatisfied noise, shaking his head.

"No way, that's half price. Mum would literally kill me. It's fifteen each." he countered, not budging. This kid was tougher than expected, and he was a little out of practice. He shot a glance over to Mika, who was slightly distracted by the handmade soaps at the table next to them. She still left room in her mind to eavesdrop.

"Jesus. Look, I get it. You've got a business to run. But there's mouths to feed." he said, looking pointedly at the back of her head. The kid perked an eyebrow, looking between the two of them.

"That woman has not had any kids." he stated. How he knew that, Bucky wasn't sure. And he wasn't sure he wanted to know how he knew it. But that was neither here nor there. He had him right where he wanted him.

"Not yet." he said pointedly, giving the kid a look. He watched as realization dawned on his face, then as he sighed in defeat.

"I can do ten each, but that's as low as I can go." he said quietly. Bucky grinned. Got him.

"Done. I'll take six." he said, pulling the cash out from his pocket. The kid packaged up the potatoes and traded them for the bills, and Bucky put them into his backpack. He gave Mika a grin as she joined him again and they continued down the line.

"Playing the unborn child card. Ruthless." she said, crossing her arms. "Although, are you saying I've gained weight? The holidays were a little heavy this year."

"Wouldn't dream of it. And I said no such thing. Just merely made a few implications." he responded. "Wasn't my best, but it's been a while since I've negotiated...like that."

"Still pretty good. Although I don't know that family, so I don't know exactly how impressive it is. It was funny to watch though, you even changed your voice." she said, giving him an impressed look. His brows knit together. What did she mean by that? It was an odd comment. She usually didn't make the odd comments - that part of their friendship was reserved for him.

"What?" he asked, hoping she would provide clarification. She raised her hands in an I don't know gesture, making the accompanying noise.

"Your accent changed." she said, as if the answer were obvious.

"No it didn't." he said. She had to be teasing him. But her face didn't betray any hidden meaning, which she usually had difficulty hiding. Was she serious?

"Yea it did. It sounded..." she insisted. She thought for a long moment, trying to decide what to say. "...like, harder? Like you were talking with your tongue against your teeth."

He'd heard that description before, a long time ago. You boys from Brooklyn, always talking with your tongues on your teeth. The voice in the memory was British, but he couldn't remember who'd said that to him. It made sense - the last time he'd done any negotiation as himself, it had been at the markets in New York.

"Guess it just didn't carry over." he said with a shrug. He wasn't as alarmed as he used to be when she made observations like that - he'd realized many months ago that if anyone was going to notice his odd quirks, it was going to be Mika. She would make a good spy, if the situation ever arose. Of course, he hoped she'd never need to be one.

She didn't give a second thought to her observation, instead being distracted by a stand with boxes upon boxes of plums, pears, and peaches. She pulled the tie from the end of her braid, shaking the waves out so they fell over her shoulders. She gave him that same troublemaker grin. "Now, let me show you how I do it."

"By all means." he said, casually pulling to a stop between two booths and looking away. This was one of the few moments he wished he had a phone, that way he'd have more of a reason to be pausing in this spot. Mika sauntered up to the booth, giving a warm and emphatic greeting to the forty-something year old man behind it. The man knew her by name, and came out from behind his table to embrace her and kiss both of her cheeks. Bucky expected the man to move away, but he stayed next to her, his arm staying over her shoulders and her hand staying on the small of his back.

"How's the family? How's your daughter?" she asked, not even mentioning the produce in front of her at all.

"She's wonderful, just about to graduate. She's off to university in the fall." he answered, laying his hand over his heart. "I don't know how I'll go on with her gone."

"Oh, you'll be just fine." she said, rubbing his back in a comforting manner. Bucky perked an eyebrow and looked away, trying to hide his smirk. Women always had their ways.

They kept up the small talk for a few minutes longer before the man finally moved away, sliding back behind the table. "What are you looking for today, eh? I have plenty perfect choices for you. Look, taste it." he pulled out a pocket knife, and Bucky subtly moved to intercept if needed. He didn't know this man, didn't trust him. But the man simply picked up one of the pears and cut a chunk from it. He held it out to her, and she gratefully plucked it from the knife and popped it into her mouth. She gave an appreciative sound.

"Marvelous, as always. No one ever has fruit like yours." she said, taking another slice from him with a dazzling smile. "What's the price point this year?"

"For anyone else, ten lei each." he said, making an exaggerated face. Mika played into it, giving him an innocent look and batting her eyelashes.

"But for me?" she asked, speaking a little lower than before. The man dramatically looked either way before leaning close to her - a little too close for Bucky's taste. She obviously knew the man, and that was the only reason he wasn't stepping in immediately. But he did shift his feet, just in case.

"For you, my dear...it seems you're in luck. For the next couple minutes, my fruit is half off!" he murmured, making Mika gasp appreciatively.

"Now Paulo, that's too good a price, even for me." she said theatrically. Bucky had to stop himself from rolling his eyes; yes, in seventy years, women had not changed much. And apparently men had become even more stupid.

"Well, if you wouldn't mind a little trade…" Paulo said, and Bucky was once again on alert. What kind of bargain was he hoping to obtain? If he so much as insinuated anything disrespectful, he was ready to throw the man across the market. "...I know Rosin would much appreciate one of your peach pies. They are her favorite."

"Of course! I can bring it tomorrow." she said, gently touching his wrist. Perhaps he'd judged Paolo too quickly. He almost felt bad about it. Almost.

"No rush, no rush. Just whenever you have a spare moment." he said, bagging up the fruit for her. Bucky moved to the other side of the aisle, pretending to glance over the handmade jewelry in glass cases. The proprietor had stepped away for a moment, giving him free reign to look without any additional social interaction. Mika finished up her conversation with Paolo, and put the large bags of fruit into her even larger bag. He waited until she said her goodbyes before stepping back next to her.

"Astounding performance." he said, allowing a bit of sarcasm to lace his tone. She gave him an equally sarcastic laugh, playfully shoving his arm.

"Hey, I just got like five times the fruit for half the price. I call that a win." she said. "Not my fault I just played to my strengths instead of making up a wild story."

"There was no wild story involved. Just some mild insinuations." he said lightly, as if that made it any better. Today, with the sun shining and his friend by his side, he felt more like himself than he had since the forties. So much so, that he decided to, dare he say, have a little fun. "Besides, I can play your game just as well."

"Oh can you?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. "Well then, hot shot, let's see it."

"Very well." he said, bolstered by this newfound confidence. Today, he felt like a regular civilian. Today, he felt normal. Today, he could do this. He spotted a young woman further down the line, artfully arranging bunches of various lettuces in a display. He put his hands in his pockets, sidling up to the stand and giving her a winning smile. "Hello." he said softly, gaining her attention. She gave him a bright, friendly smile.

"Hey there. What can I get for you?" she asked, her tone polite. He gave her his most charming smile, keeping his posture casual.

"These are beautiful. I didn't realize there were so many kinds of greens. Which is the best?" he asked. This was going to take some patience. When was the last time he'd attempted to flirt with someone?

"Well, it depends what you're going for." the woman replied. She pointed to the far left. "Arugula is a little bitter, so you have to mix it with something savory or sweet to counteract it. The Romaine is best for light salads and really goes with everything. For wraps, I recommend the butter leaf. It has a very nice texture."

"Is that one your favorite? The butter leaf?" he asked. It felt odd to smile this much. She gave a shrug, glancing over the selection.

"Depends on what you're into." she finally said, giving him an expectant look. Maybe he was doing better than he thought.

"And what are you into?" he questioned, putting a little more mischief in his grin. Flirting wasn't near as hard as he thought it was going to be. The words weren't coming as smoothly as they used to, he knew that for sure, but overall this was going much better than he anticipated when he'd made that impulsive bet. The woman laughed, but not in a flirtatious way. No, he could instantly tell that he had lost.

"You're cute. And charming." she said, still speaking through giggles. "But I'm afraid I'd be more 'into' in your friend over there."

Bucky's jaw went slack as Mika erupted into laughter, clutching her stomach. The girl held her smirk, staring at him with a daring look in her eye. She was daring him to react in an unsavory manner, as she was probably used to outrage or contempt. He didn't mind her preferences, though he knew that if this were before the War she definitely wouldn't be so bold. Everything was more acceptable these days, more free. He found this comforting - after so many years as the Soldier, it was difficult for him to be concerned about modesty. Usually he only noted it because he felt other people did. He gave her a polite smile, his hand rubbing the back of his neck before he realized he was doing it. "I'll, uh, just take one of each, please." he said, his tone returning to normal. Mika, still howling with laughter, came to stand next to him.

"I'll take some as well." she said, getting herself under control. The girl began to package their vegetables, perking an eyebrow as they noted to collect them separately.

"Separate?" she asked, making sure. She meant to address both of them, but was only looking at Mika.

"Yes." Bucky answered, though she didn't really seem to hear him. He was amused by this interaction; sure, he'd known a few women back in his time that were interested in women, but they never got to be this open, this authentic. It was kind of liberating, in a way. He gave the woman the lei he owed her, tucking his greens into his backpack and stepping away. He could hear the girls chatting still, but figured they may like a moment to themselves. He'd bartered his way through three more tables before Mika caught up to him.

"Whew, sorry. Got caught up." she said, falling in stride next to him. He gave her a knowing smirk.

"Happens." he said. He suddenly recalled the first time they'd gone to the cafe around the corner, and the waitress there. The phone number. That seemed like the next logical step in the conversation. "Did she give you her number?"

Mika gave him a mildly impressed look, followed by a smile. "No, she did not. But I'm sure we'll see each other again." she said, looking away from him for a moment. Her hands were fiddling with the strap of her bag. Why was she nervous? Was it because she was afraid of his reaction? She needn't be, but he didn't want to say as such out loud. He didn't want to put words in her mouth, or make her feel like she needed to explain herself. Mika was a little more heartfelt than most people he knew, so he wasn't sure if she was facilitating another friendship or something else. Either way, he didn't want her to feel uncomfortable, or unaccepted.

"Maybe next time." he replied, giving her what he thought was a hopeful look. This seemed like an unbiased enough answer, and he hoped it would relieve whatever tension she'd put herself under. She gave him a shy smile, standing up a little taller as they continued their walk.

"Maybe." she agreed, looking ahead to the booths in front of them. "What else do you need?"

"I believe I've got everything necessary." he replied. His backpack was heavy and filled to the brim with fresh vegetables and spices. He found he was actually quite excited to get back to his apartment and cook with them. "You?"

"Just a couple more stops." she said, picking up her pace a bit. He didn't mind if they kept the slower speed - he would not be going to the grocery store upon their return, and the market here was still relatively quiet. The open air allowed his senses to take in everything efficiently without being overwhelmed. None of the tents had walls, which meant he had good visibility through the rows. Overall, relatively easy to manage. He could handle staying here a little longer. Mika made a stop at the table with various grains and flours, loading up with a few pounds of each. At the next spot, she purchased fresh butter, eggs, and cheese. He had the distinct feeling that there would be a lot of baking over the next few days.

"Now for the best part." she said, smiling widely. Her speed had faltered a bit now that she was laden down with produce, but she still navigated the stalls with impressive agility.

"And what's that?" he asked. He was nervous, though he didn't know why. He supposed the alarms would never stop going off in his head whenever there was an unknown happenstance. Even if he still felt the pull in his muscles to abort mission and retreat, it was at least more of a tug now instead of a forceful yank.

"You'll see." she sang, leading him around the corner to a booth. He hated when she said that. He couldn't manage to get Mika to understand that he despised surprises. They rounded a turn to where an old woman sat on a stool, giving them a toothy grin as they stopped at her table. She had a large stone thing on her table, as well as a huge bucket of ice. Bucky was very confused, but Mika seemed to know exactly what was going on. The old woman stood and greeted her warmly - as most of the farmers had today - chattering away about her family and asking Mika about her love life. No orders were placed, but the woman began grabbing fruit from some secret area beneath the table and chopping it roughly. She pressed the flesh of the fruit over the stone, the juice flowing down into a plastic cup. She added a variety of juices until the cup was mostly full, then put a handful of ice before capping it and handing him a straw. Both women looked on expectantly as he punctured the lid with the straw and hesitated. He wanted to analyze the situation more, sniff out the possibility of poison. But now was not the time. Maybe, if Mika trusted this woman, he could too.

"Delicious." he breathed after taking a sip. He wasn't lying - the mixture of melon, orange, and peach was fresh and flavorful and just sweet enough to remind him of summers gone by. He took another sip as the woman mixed up a second cup, handing that one to Mika. She handed her a few bills, then took a long draught of her drink. With a satisfied smile, she bid the woman goodbye, and they turned toward the exit.

"Overall, a successful morning." she commented, limping along with her heavy bag. Bucky eyed her and her awkward gait with amusement, and he wondered exactly how much she'd purchased.

"So it would seem." he said wryly, earning a weak glare from his companion. It was made all the more comical by the clumsy walk she was sporting. He couldn't hide his grin at that point.

"None of that from you, sir." she said, wagging a finger in his direction. Her chastising tone was cut by the shortness of breath from carrying her heavy pack. "This is practically a holiday in my book, it's not my fault I got a little too excited."

He gave a brief huff of a laugh, holding out his left hand. "Give it here." he said, gesturing with his fingers.

"No. I'm strong and capable, thank you." she said, her words once again accented by her huffing and puffing. He raised an eyebrow, giving her a pointed look.

"You're full of shit." he said, waving his hand at her again. This made her dissolve into laughter, and she finally conceded and handed him the strap of her bag. He easily slung it over his shoulder, but he was surprised by its weight. It was even heavier than he'd estimated. She was giving him a bemused look, as if she were laughing at some joke now. He wanted in on it. "What?" he questioned.

"When you first moved in, I told Elena that my goal was to befriend you so you could carry heavy things up the stairs for me. And look, my plan has finally come to fruition." she said, trying to keep her voice even. However, her cheeky grin gave her away. He pulled the strap from his shoulder, the metal arm easily holding the weighty bag out in front of him. She diverted her path, as if she were avoiding being touched by it.

"You can have it back, if you like." he teased, and she shook her head dramatically, turning her shoulder away from him as he held it closer to her again.

"Oh, no no. I wouldn't rob you of this opportunity to be a gentleman." she replied, taking a sip from her drink. Once again, she was unable to hide her smirk. He gave a low chuckle, shaking his head.

"Full of shit." he reiterated, putting the strap over his shoulder again. She didn't seem bothered by his jab, humming happily with her face in the sun and her drink in her hand. He carried her bag all the way to her front door, only handing it over then. She took it with a grateful smile.

"Thank you, thank you." she said, trying not to show how heavy she'd forgotten it was. She heaved it over her own shoulder, trying to keep her balance. "When's movie night this week?"

Bucky thought for a moment, remembering his schedule but also doing his traditional hesitation before accepting Mika's invitation. All this time, and he still wondered if she was being polite or genuine, even though in his heart he knew the answer. It was his mind that kept messing him up. "Tomorrow or Tuesday." he said, giving her either option with his nights off.

"Tomorrow it is. Please let me buy the pizza." she added, giving him a stern look. He shook his head.

"I'll bring it." he replied, unlocking his door before she could answer. He could hear her protesting, but closed the door quickly behind him. He may be hit or miss on social situations and may still have issues with interpersonal communication, but he'd be damned if he let a lady pay for their shared supper. Mika informed him a couple months prior that this was an antiquated practice, and that even then it wasn't a date, so it would be fine to switch back and forth. He adamantly disagreed. She was providing the movies, he would provide the sustenance. Easy as that.

He unloaded his fresh vegetables and organized them, admiring the colorful array now adorning his kitchen. With everything now in its place, he sat down with his list of recipes and began reading through them, trying to decide which one to start with that evening. Of all the surprise outings Mika had taken him on, this one was by far his favorite.

He was so distracted by the success of the morning that he almost forgot the new agreement they'd reached at the gym. His blood chilled again as he realized that teaching Mika how to fight - really and truly fight - might bring parts of him to the forefront that he never wanted her to see.

But what if it didn't? He'd been afraid teaching her defense would crack open the wall he kept between himself and the past, but he'd managed it with minimal bumps in the road. Perhaps he can do this. He hadn't been the Soldier for well over a year now. Perhaps he could have a little more confidence. All else failed, he reasoned, Mika would not disown him if he said he couldn't teach her.

He could worry about that later. For now, he was hungry.

Thank you so so so much to everyone for the faves, follows, and most of all reviews! I love hearing your thoughts about my babies here. I meant to ask last chapter how you felt about Mika and Bucky sharing POVs in one chapter...thoughts?

There's also been a couple questions about Bucky having DID (dissociative identity disorder). I'm not a psychological healthcare professional by any means, so I don't feel comfortable saying one way or another. This is def something open to your interpretation! In my mind, there is a stark difference between Bucky and The Winter Soldier. I see them more as two beings sharing the same body (which I guess sounds a lot like DID), though the Soldier is less a personality and more of a lack thereof? I'm not sure. Anyways, it's up to you!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

-XM