Chapter 3: Date(s)
Bucky's glad he didn't buy you flowers on the first date. The sneezing fit after walking past the florist to the coffee shop was noted amongst his memories. He made notice of everything about you. Like there was a special file in his brain to remember every detail. You were a mission, but not the kind he was used to. No this was different. And this was important. He did stick to tradition and open the coffee shop door for you. Which caused you to smile and thank him.
"Abuelita! The usual?" called out the barista at the register. He was tall, slender, and had short brown hair sticking out from under his hat.
"Yes please, Jason. And whatever he's having." Bucky was looking over the small menu. You had chosen a local shop instead of a Starbucks. Their drinks were very different. Lavender? In coffee? Why was 2023 so complicated? Two more patrons had entered behind you. Bucky instinctively took note of them. Two men, twitchy with energy. Maybe from the gym? They had broad builds. There's a bald one that looks rather calm. But the smaller blonde, he's nervous about something, looking around wildly.
"Go ahead, guys. I have no idea what I want yet." Bucky says to them hoping they will just move on. Quickly. He wraps his left arm around you to pull you closer. You hadn't thought about who might be behind you. This is your usual spot, and it attracts a calm crowd. Usually. The blonde stares at you, and his gaze lingers at your waist. You tuck Bucky's hand under your sweater but still above your leggings. A gesture he appreciates. Blondie looked like he was about to start a fight. They immediately order. Water for baldie and a caramel latte for blondie.
"Do you drink coffee often?" You ask, turning his attention and focus back to you.
"Yes, but everything is so much sweeter now than I remember. And there are definitely some new combinations on this menu that I'm not familiar with." He admits.
"I love that it's eclectic." There's that smile again that he loves. "You can always ask them to leave out the sweeteners. The flavorings will have their own too. Or there's tea."
"What do you get? What's "the usual"?"
"Small triple chocolate iced coffee with coconut milk." Is that slight embarrassment along with the small smile as you give you answer, Bucky wonders. Coconut milk is a new one too for Bucky. He cocks an eyebrow teasingly. "I'm lactose intolerant. You can get something else, and try mine, see what you think?" You suggest, and unknown to each other, you both have taken note of how the men have sat down. You both turn back to Jason.
"The lavender one. With no sweetener or whipped cream, please." Jason nods. "Coconut milk. To go." Bucky pays before you can even think about it and suggests that once your drinks are ready you go for a walk. It's an uncomfortable wait. Even with other patrons enjoying their drinks inside and more arriving the two men that came directly after you have not stopped staring. Luckily Bucky seems ok with the silence between you. His hand is still on your side, under sweater and above leggings, and the circles he rubs with his thumb is soothing. Keeping you grounded until you can leave. Anxiety is creeping up on you as if a spider is crawling up your body. Slowly, tickling its way to the top. Bucky is using all his super soldier senses to keep track of the situation. Your increased breathing. Eyes darting around. Baldie and blondie glaring and listening. Heartbeats quickening.
"Abuelita!" The other barista calls out, disturbing the tension and calling everyone back to reality.
The walk is uneventful. You let Bucky take you a couple blocks away before suggesting a local park to sit and finish drinking. Bucky notices that the walk to the park takes you back around, full circle from the coffee shop. It's unlikely the two men will catch up to you unless he's missed them following you both. He wonders if you did this on purpose or if it's a happy coincidence. It's fall, and not too cold yet. Trees at the park have turned yellow, orange, auburn, and beautiful./p
You sit at the end of the bench. Snug in the corner by a large tree. Bucky sits close to you, and you have to bite your cheek to hold back a smile./p
"Thank you, by the way." Bucky starts, "For the coffee shop. My, uh, hand, arm….it has some feeling….I could tell I wasn't touching your skin. But it's not the same. But, thanks."
"You're welcome. Thank you for sharing."
"This coffee shouldn't work but it does." He frowns but the corners of his mouth turn up. You giggle.
"Then what?!" Torres' excited shouts ring through your phone. You caught him between meetings with Sam. He usually walks you home on the phone. There's just usually less exciting things to talk about. You're glad you haven't switched to your Bluetooth yet so you can pull the phone away from your ear a little.
"Ouch. Why are you screaming? We went to the record store, and he walked me home."
"Is that when he kissed you?"
"Tor!" You stutter for a second when you look over your shoulder and spot an unwelcome sight. "Tor…Tor, that's not important right now, but I do need you to keep talking so I can take a covert picture. And I need you to meet me at the coffee shop. Like now."
"Sure, but I don't like this new tone, Abuelita. What's going on?"
"That's when you kissed her right?" Sam's poking for information. He has been for some time. Bucky would be irritated but at this point he's used to Sam. They might even be friends. "You have kissed her right, man? Or was that not the custom back in your day?" Now Bucky's irritated.
"I'm not that old."
"Alright, alright, man. Have you noticed that bald guy following us?" Sam asks. He's been aware of the man behind them for five blocks but just had the opportunity to ask Bucky if he noticed.
"I have noticed him. Not sure why Just glad he's following us." Bucky answers. His phone buzzes. He immediately pulls it out. Which Sam takes note of.
"That you're girlfriend?" Sam fires off. "What's the weird billboard pic supposed to mean?" He asks when he sees your message. It's an odd angled picture of a billboard. Below you've typed out the phrase "It used to have an add for caramel lattes. Strange right?" Bucky stops dead in his tracks for a second. Because under the billboard is Blondie. You're both being followed. And he's underestimated you. The circle around to the park was intentional. How long have these guys been following you? He snaps a picture to send in return. Captioned "Mine only has water. Where are you?"
"It means we have a problem, Sam. Maybe a big problem."