"So, what's today's plan?" Sam asked.
Bucky, who was sitting on the kitchen counter drinking another one of those organic smoothies he enjoyed so much. "Going to the barbers."
"The barbers?"
"To get my hair cut."
"Okay. Cool. You going with some sort of an undercut or short back and sides?"
Bucky looked thoughtful. "Hmm... never thought about those... I was just getting the ends done" he admitted. He set the glass down and touched his hair. "Natasha sent me a message-"
"You spoke to her?"
He nodded. "She messages me occasionally. See how I am going."
"Huh. Never knew."
"Well, its not often that she does. Before yesterday it was about... a month."
Sam nods. "Steve is back tomorrow."
Bucky smiled. "Yes."
'Maybe you should get a different haircut. Surprise him."
"I think... that is a good idea. Do you think it would help with my anonymity?"
"For sure."
"Hm. Okay. Maybe I will ask the barber."
Sam opened the pantry. "You made muesli?"
"Sure did" he said, trying not to look too smug. He was getting good at this stuff. He had to admit, the internet was incredible. Around cat videos and smoothie recipes he felt like he was learning new things every minute.
"How... what?"
"Don't question it, just enjoy it."
"You mean I can have some?"
He nodded.
Sam looked very surprised, but decided to stick with a simple "Thank you."
Bucky finished the rest of his smoothie and leaned over to put the glass in the sink. "Anyway, what are you doing today?"
Sam put the milk in the fridge. "I guess I should clean the place up a little for when Steve gets back."
Bucky nodded. "I'll help when I get back."
Sam looked dumbfounded.
"What?" Bucky asked, feeling uncomfortable. "I live here too."
"But... you never do housework."
"I know." He slid off the counter. "But I think I should pull my weight."
"I'll leave you all the fun jobs" Sam chuckled.
"Be nice to me, I only have one arm" he pouted, before breaking out in a grin.
"I could imagine you being a little bit of goofball, y'know?"
Bucky shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe? You should ask Steve. He knows me better than I know me."
"Sorry."
Bucky shook his head. "Don't." He stretched his arms above his head. "Do you think I could borrow five dollars?"
Sam raised a brow. "You go shower, I'll eat and give you that money when you're leaving."
Bucky smiled. "Thanks."
Sam nodded, shooing him away.
...
Bucky was ecstatic with his hair. It wasn't too much shorter at the back and sides, but the top had been left longer. "This is nice. When I was younger they only really had two styles, I am sure of it."
The barber chuckled. "Sure that's not true."
"Just ask my friend Steve" he said, still admiring his hair. "I really liked my long hair, but I do like this more. Its more... sophisticated" he decided, running his fingers through his hair. "Wish I had two arms, I could run twice as many fingers through my hair" he chuckled.
The barber just nodded. "Okay... um-"
"Sorry, didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I am just... used to not having a second arm. How much do I owe?" he said quickly, wanting to make a quick escape.
"Twelve."
Bucky nodded and passed him the cash. "Thanks and sor-"
"You look familiar."
Bucky froze. "Ah..."
"I feel like I have seen you somewhere before..."
Bucky wanted to play it off, but he had no idea what to say. He had never been recognized publicly yet.
"Did you used to work at the bar down the road?"
"No. Must have a twin" he chuckled awkwardly.
The man nodded. "I could have sworn I've seen you before. Oh well. You have a good day."
"You too." He quickly walked outside and back towards the Starbucks. That was all different levels of awkward. He was all levels of awkward. Now, all he had to do was go to Starbucks, order like Sam always did and head home. How bad could this be?
He stepped inside and walked up to the counter, trying to look confident, but knowing that it wasn't true. He was nervous. Usually Steve was with him, or Sam... He sighed. He could do this. It was all part of getting better. Properly acclimatizing. If he could get his hair cut, he could order coffee. Simple.
He looked at the board, even though he knew what he was going to order. Looking at the board while speaking to the barista may have seemed rude, sure, but it made him feel like he wouldn't have some sort of panic attack. He ordered the drinks, but then he realized how hungry he was. He looked at the food, his heart pounding. He was holding up three people behind him just because he couldn't decide. He swallowed hard, and felt himself trembling a little. He looked back at the barista who was just smiling, not saying anything. There was no judgment on her face. He felt himself relax. "Just the coffee, thanks" he said quickly.
She smiled. "No worries. And I will just grab a name."
"James." He passed her the cash and stepped to the side.
"Did you want your change?"
He looked at the small coins in her hand and shook his head.
"Thank you."
He didn't know what to do or say, so he just shrugged. He really needed to work on his interpersonal skills.
He stood around awkwardly for his drink. He didn't want to look at anyone, so he just stared at the ground until his name was called, which didn't take long. He stepped up to collect his drink when the man held the two cups out.
Bucky held up one hand.
"I am so sorry" the man said, getting a cardboard holder.
Bucky shrugged. "Its fine." He took the cardboard tray and walked out before the man could say anything else. God people were a terrible source of anxiety. They were quite unpredictable. He walked back to the house, avoiding eye contact with a few joggers and mums pushing their prams. He was glad to say he only almost got ran over by a pram once. He walked up to the door of the house, but then realized that he forgot his key. His was sure his eyes rolled back so far he saw his brain. Then he realized that he couldn't knock on the door unless he set the drinks down. What if he put them down and they managed to tip over? He couldn't waste the coffee.
He decided to set the coffee down, knowing that picking it up would be its own set of problems, but it was more dignified then headbutting the door. Why hadn't Sam replaced the batteries in the doorbell? He knocked on the door and a few seconds later Sam opened the door.
"Hey- your hair looks good. I didn't realize you had so much of it."
Bucky frowned but nodded. "Thanks. Um..." he looked at the ground. "Coffee."
"You bought me a coffee?"
Bucky smiled. "Yeah. I did."
"That's nice of you. I see why you wanted five bucks now."
"Well, you were cleaning..." he shrugged.
Sam picked up the tray and walked inside, holding the door for Bucky. Sam closed the door behind him.
Bucky sat down on the lounge, pulling his knees up to his chest.
Sam sat next to him, passing him his coffee.
Bucky looked at him. "Thanks."
He nodded. "So, how was your day? How'd you go?"
He shook his head.
"What happened?"
Bucky sipped his latte. "Sam... what should I do if I want to get better at talking to people?"
"Simple. Role play."
"What?"
"So, what was your situation?"
He explained the Starbucks interaction.
"Okay, so, let's go through that. I will be the person at the counter, you be the customer."
Bucky raised a brow. "Okay."
Sam chuckled. "Don't look so nervous. You're making me nervous."
Bucky gave him an apologetic smile.
"Ready?"
Bucky nodded.
"Hi, how are you today?"
Bucky nodded. "Good. You?"
"Well thanks. What can I get you?"
Bucky automatically looked past Sam's head, although he knew the board wasn't on the wall behind him. He frowned and swallowed.
"Okay" Sam said. "So, when you order, I know you always look at the board, but you know what you get every time you go there. You should look at the server."
Bucky nodded.
"If you have trouble looking someone in the eye, look here, on the bridge of their nose or just between their eyebrows."
"Really?"
Sam nodded. "When we do this again, try it on me."
Bucky nodded, feeling all too enthusiastic about this new information.
"Don't look passed me at an imaginary board. Look between my eyebrows."
"Okay."
Sam cleared his throat. "What can I get you?"
Bucky looked between Sam's eyes. "Latte. Venti."
"No worries. Was that all today?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"What name should I put it under?"
"James."
Sam smiled. "See, that was good."
Bucky smiled. "You think?"
"Yeah. Absolutely. How did looking between the eyes go? Was that easier for you?"
He nodded.
"Good. What about paying? Does it make you nervous?"
"I think paying is fine... cause I know that the transaction is almost over."
Sam nodded. "I know it can be hard to talk to people, but if you wanna go through this sort of stuff again, I can do that for you."
"I appreciate it."
"So... how did the barber shop go?"
"Oh, the guy thought I was someone else. I hope."
Sam nodded. "Okay. Okay."
Bucky shrugged. "I'm just hoping he didn't know..."
"Yeah. Well, what's the chances. You could pass as any almost thirty rethinking my hipster lifestyle-"
"Hipster?"
"Let's just made this a conversation for another day."
"I'll look it up" Bucky said, basically jumping off the lounge to rush to Steve's room.
Sam sipped his drink. His poor cappuccino had gotten a little too cold. He had totally forgot that Bucky was 'tech-savvy' now.
