Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count: 342
Anytime
Tony turned around and froze, blinking at the figure on the tatty sofa in his workshop. Bucky was curled up as small as he could make himself in the corner, biting his lip.
It was a nervous habit he'd picked up during the many B.A.R.F sessions that had rid him of his trigger words, and it seemed to have stuck.
"What's up, Snowflake?" Tony asked, grabbing a rag from the corner of his table to wipe oil from his hands. It didn't really work but at least he'd tried.
"They looked at me like I was stupid—I'm not stupid," Bucky muttered.
Tony frowned. "Who did?"
"At the grocery store," Bucky replied, closing his eyes for a moment. "I thought I could handle it on my own—the therapist said I've been making good progress, you know? So I thought I could handle it, but it turns out that I really couldn't, because there are so many options! Why are there so many different kinds of orange juice, Tony?"
Tony sighed. While usually he would laugh and make jokes, Bucky just looked so downtrodden that he couldn't bring himself to do so. "I dunno, Buck. But hey, it's fine. So it didn't go well this time, you just have to try again."
Bucky shook his head and looked down at his hands, curled together in his lap. "I don't wanna go back there."
Twisting his lips thoughtfully, Tony checked the time. "Okay, you sit tight and let me get a shower, and then I'll go with you to the grocery store. It'll be an adventure, I don't think I've set foot in one for about ten years."
Bucky looked up at him. "Really?"
"Really really. I pay people to do that for me. Hell, that's what Google is for."
"No, I mean… you're really going to come with me?"
"Oh. Yeah, sure I am. And then, when it's done, we'll go and get ice cream and donuts. I'm really feeling ice cream and donuts."
Bucky nodded. "I'd like that. Uh, thanks, Tony."
"Anytime, Buttercup."
Written for:
Showtime, 2. "They looked at me like I was stupid—I'm not stupid."
Quilt Making: Chevron, 3. Nervous