A Little Calm...

Caffeine Catch Up

Stand By Me - Ben E. King

You stop in a cafe to catch up before you both have to be somewhere.

Y/n
"I heard about Steve, I'm sorry."

Bucky looks sad at the mention of him but doesn't have the awkward, closed off nature you're used to.

Bucky
"It's okay, he was happy, you know? It's what he wanted."

You realise that although he's okay with it, he'd be more comfortable if the subject changed.

Y/n
"So, new hair cut huh? Suits you."

He runs his hand down the side of his head, smoothing out the shorter pieces.

Bucky
"Thanks, it's a little shorter than I used to have it back in the day but I thought I should at least try to 'get with the times'."

You both give a slight laugh before he remembers that he never actually told you how old he is.
He looks as though he's about to back track before you stop him.

Y/n
"Don't worry, I did my homework after Berlin. A quick trip to the Smithsonian and Shield/Hydras public records just about covered everything I needed to know."

He looks at his coffee in a way that says he's not sure if he wanted you to know those things about him.

Bucky
"So, you know a lot about me yet I seem to know nothing about you."

You sit up in your chair and lean into the table whilst clearing your throat.

Y/n
"Well, I'm a journalist now with the Daily Bugle. I'm based up in the village an-"

Bucky cuts you off

Bucky
"No, I mean like real stuff. You know my whole personal history but I don't know where you grew up for example. Hell, I don't even know your full name or your age."

Y/n
"Okay, fine. My full name is y/f/n, I'm 29 not including the blip. Ummm I grew up just outside London, where I lived until I was 18. Then I came to school in the US and never left."

Bucky sits back in his chair slowly nodding his head.

Bucky
"Have to have been back home since you moved?"

Y/n
"Sort of, odd visits here and there. I visited for a while just after the blip. Don't get me wrong, I love my family and I always love seeing them, but it's difficult to find times when we're all free. And it's a long way to go for a small trip, so if I'm going it has to be for at least a week. Which if you knew my boss is practically a month to him."

Bucky
"Sounds like a nice guy."

You sigh

Y/n
"Yeah, but he pays my bills."

There's a quiet moment before Bucky checks his watch.

Bucky
"I should go, I have a date."

You're slightly taken back by his rush to get and and put his jacket on.

Y/n
"Yeah sure, don't worry about it. It was good to catch up. You head off, I'll grab the bill."

Bucky
"Thank you, it really was."

That's the first time you've seen him genuinely smile. You stand up before he leaves and there's an awkward moment where you don't know whether to hug or handshake. You're not ready for a hug from anyone. You end up going for the handshake but both make it slightly more intimate by maintaining eye contact. It seems to be your mutual understanding of affection at this point.