October 8th: Cat ears and hot chocolate

(WinterWitch, rated K+)

Wanda was holding onto Bucky's hand in order not to lose him in the stream of people crowding the streets on that evening in October. Gently he was pulling her closer to him so she could hear him when he started talking: „Do we really need to do this? I hate shopping…" Wanda grinned: „I know… but you have no choice. For Halloween we need costumes."

Bucky rolled his eyes and sighed: „But…" Wanda knew what he was going to say and interrupted: „No, you can't just stick with your mask and suit – it's not fair!"

They needed to stop in front of a home-decor-shop because a group of people was pushing them in the wrong direction. Wanda eyed the shop-windows briefly and shook her head: „It's October… why's there already Christmas lights and stockings on display?"

Bucky shrugged: „Probably it sells… people are strange, you know." Wanda chuckled: „And we are perfectly normal, right?"

Bucky grinned: „No… I never suggested that. It would also be boring." He started walking again when it seemed to be safe, still holding onto Wanda's hand with his human hand. After a few minutes had passed Wanda suddenly stopped and pointed at a shop: „There! I found it!"

Bucky eyed the colorful front of the building, a clown and a princess placed in the window decorated with balloons and confetti: „Okay… let's get over with this."

Wanda was now the one dragging him along as they entered the shop. It was not too big, but one could say the space available was used to its fullest. The shelves were stuffed with all kinds of dresses, shirts, onesies and accessories. The shop assistant was sitting by the register reading a book. He didn't seem to be interested to help them in any way so Wanda and Bucky started looking around by themselves. Bucky jokingly grabbed a fake mustache and showed it to her: „That would fit you!" Wanda grinned and pulled out a curly blonde with resembling Marilyn Monroe's locks from the shelf behind her: „I'd love to see you wearing this."

Bucky grinned: „In your dreams…"

Wanda laughed before looking at him mischievously: „I have an idea… let's put together three costumes for each other…. no rules!" Bucky grinned and placed a kiss on the back of her hand: „Oh, Wanda… of course, but know that you just signed your own death warrant."

Wanda grinned: „I don't care… as long as I can give you hell too…"

Quickly the two of them searched every corner of the shop and carried around hats and wigs, dresses and other clothing. With quite a small hill of things on their arms, they met up at the one changing cubicle in the back of the shop after a while. It was separated from the rest of the shop by a single curtain.
Bucky grinned and looked at Wanda: „Ladies first."

Wanda rolled her eyes an sighed as she placed the clothes she had assembled for him on a small table and stepped into the cabin: „Okay… do your worst."
Bucky grabbed a few items from his pile and handed them to her. She closed the curtain and after a minute or so she stepped out of the changing space, arms crossed and obviously not too happy: „What is that supposed to be?" She was wearing a way too short dress for public places. The skirt was checkered in white and blue and the top was red and revealing. The wig on her head was blonde and two bows held the two pigtails, one on each side of the head, together.
Bucky had a hard time holding back his laughter: „It… is supposed to be a Bavarian girl."
Wanda held onto the pigtails and grinned: „Very funny…"

She walked back into the cabin and asked for the next outfit. Bucky handed her only a few things before the curtain closed again. After a few minutes Wanda spoke up, the curtain still closed: „Bucky… I need help…" He walked inside without removing the curtain and laughed.

Wanda sighed: „It is not funny! Close the damn top already." He closed the zipper without commenting before pulling the curtain open and stepping back.
She was wearing a rose crop-top with a short white skirt. On the back of it was a cattail the fitting accessory, cat-ears, on her head.
Bucky couldn't stop grinning. Wanda touched the ears for a second before looking at him: „That's terrible. Who would like to buy that?"
Bucky shrugged and handed her the last outfit: „Try this… I think you might actually like it."
Wanda took the clothes he handed her and closed the curtain: „At least it's more fabric than this thing."

She changed an opened the curtain after a few minutes actually smiling: „You're right… I like it." She was wearing a black dress fitting tightly to the hips but flowing to the knees. The red gloves fit with the red choker and the band around her waist. A witch's hat completed the outfit.
Bucky nodded: „Yes! You should totally buy it."
Wanda turned around to look into the mirror: „If you like it too, it can't be so wrong… can it?"

Bucky looked her up and down again: „No… this thing is you."
Wanda smiled before closing the curtain: „Alright… so it's your turn."

She changed into her regular clothes before opening the curtain and grabbing her pile. She handed Bucky his first outfit. Hesitantly he closed the curtain.
After a while, he started talking: „No kidding? I'm not gonna show you!"
Wanda grinned and opened the curtain by herself. Bucky was wearing a long red dress and wearing the Marilyn-Monroe-wig from earlier. Wanda burst out in laughter the moment she saw him: „What a lovely girl you are!"
Bucky tried to close the curtain again immediately: „Stop it! Give me the next one already!"
Wanda handed him the clothes still laughing.
When the curtain opened again Bucky sighed. He was wearing cheaply ripped jeans and a red top. The pirate-head was plastic and the eyepatch looked really fake: „Why are you doing this to me?"
Wanda grinned: „Talk like a pirate! Or I don't get the feeling!"
Bucky took off the eyepatch: „Give me the last one so we can leave…"
Wanda gave him the rest of the things she was holding: „I really like the last one… I guess it fits you…" She handed him the stuff and the curtain closed.

Bucky opened it unassertive: „It is kind of cool… but… does it fit me?" He was wearing the outfit of the mad hatter, similar to Johnny Depp's in the movies, but still a little less steampunk. Wanda smiled as she saw him: „YES! It's so cool! The hat fits you so well. Please go with it."
Bucky looked into the mirror once more before slowly nodding and changing. They paid for the costumes and walked out of the shop.

Wanda grinned as she looked at the shopping bags: „Admit that it was fun already."
Bucky started grinning: „Yeah… seeing you struggle with that cat tail was worth it."
Wanda rolled her eyes: „Come on… let's keep going."

Bucky took the bag she was holding from her and smiled: „Let's grab some coffee… it's getting cold in the evening."
Wanda linked arms with him: „Good idea… but I'd like hot chocolate better."